Heritability and Repeatability Estimates of Some Measurable Traits in Meat Type Chickens Reared for Ten Weeks in Abeokuta, Nigeria

A total of 150 meat type chickens comprising 50 each
of Arbor Acre, Marshall and Ross were used for this study which
lasted for 10 weeks at the Federal University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta, Nigeria. Growth performance data were collected from the
third week through week 10 and data obtained were analysed using
the Generalized Linear Model Procedure. Heritability estimates (h2)
for body dimensions carried out on the chicken strains ranged from
low to high. Marshall broiler chicken strain had the highest h2 for
body weight 0.46±0.04, followed by Arbor Acre and Ross with h2
being 0.38±0.12 and 0.26±0.06, respectively. The repeatability
estimates for body weight in the three broiler strains were high, and it
ranged from 0.70 at week 4 to 0.88 at week 10. Relationships
between the body weight and linear body measurements in the broiler
chicken strains were positive and highly significant (p > 0.05).

• A. J. Sanda
• O. Olowofeso
• M. A. Adeleke
• A. O Oso
• S. O. Durosaro
• M. O. Sanda

• Broiler chicken strains
• heritability
• repeatability
• traits.

[1] Adebambo, A.O., Faybenvo, O.I., Fragite, S.O., Ikeobi C.O.N. and
Adebambo, O.A. (2005). Preliminary assessment of growth and
reproductive data of three strain of chickens for broiler development in
Nigeria. Proceedings of 1st Nigeria International Poultry Summit, Ota,
Ogun State, Nigeria. Pp: 9-11.
[2] Adeleke, M.A., Ozoje, M.O., Olufunmilayo A. Adebambo, Peters, S.O.
and Bamgbose, A.M. (2004). Estimation of body weight from linear
body measurements among crossbred egg-type chickens. Proceedings of
the 29th Annual Conference of the Genetics Society of Nigeria,
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, Pp 88-91.
[3] Ajayi, F.O., Ejiofor, O. and Ironkwe, M. O. (2008). Estimation of
bodyweight from body measurements in two commercial meat type
chickens. Global Journal of Agricultural Science. 7(1): 57-59.
[4] Akanno, E.C., Ole, P.K., Okoli, I.C. and Ogundu, U.E. (2007).
Performance characteristics and prediction of body weight of broiler
strains using linear body measurements. Proceedings of the 22nd Annual
Conference of Nigerian Society for Animal Production, Calabar, Cross
River State, Nigeria, Pp: 162-164.
[5] Amao, S.R., Ojedapo, L.O., Oyewumi, S.O. and Ameen, S.A. (2011).
Estimation of body weight from linear body measurements in Wadi Ross
meat type chicken in derived savannah zone of Nigeria. Proceedings of
the 16th Annual Conference of the Animal Science Association of
Nigeria, Anyigba, Nigeria. Pp 9-12.
[6] Argenta˜o, C., Michelan Filho, T., Marques, J.B., Souza, E.M., Eler, J.P.
and Ferraz, J.B.S. (2002). Genetic and phenotypic parameters of growth
and carcass traits of a male line of broilers raised in tropical conditions.
In Proceedings of 7th Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock
Production, Montpellier, France. Pp: 333-336.
[7] Banerjee, S. (2011). Estimation of body weight at different ages using
linear and some non-linear regression equations in a duck breed reared
in hot and humid climate of Eastern India. American-Eurasian Journal
of Scientific Research. 6 (4): 201-204.
[8] Cahaner, A. and Nitsan, Z. (1985). Evaluation of simultaneous selection
for live body weight and against abdominal fat in broilers. Poultry
Science. 64: 1257-1263.
[9] Havenstein, G.B., Ferket, P.R. and Qureshi, M.A. (2003). Growth,
livability and feed conversion of 1957 versus 2001 broiler when fed
representative and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science. 82: 1500-1508.
[10] Kabir, M.T., Yakudu, H., Akpa, G.N., Jokthan, G.E., Abdul, S.B.,
Abdulrashid, M. and Adamu, Y.H. (2008). Repeatability for body
weight and body conformation traits in Anak 2000 strains of Broiler
chickens. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 112: 17-21.
[11] Ledur, M.C., Schmidt, G.S. Figueiredo, E.P. A´vila, V.S. and Fiorentin,
L. (1994). Paraˆmetros gene´ticos e fenotı´picos em linhagens de aves
selecionadas para corte. Pesq. Agropec. Bras. 29: 503-508.
[12] Le Bihan-Duval, E., Mignon-Grasteau, S., Millet, N. and Beaumont, C.
(1998). Genetic analysis of a selection experiment on increased body
weight and breast muscle weight as well as on limited abdominal fat
weight. British Poultry Science. 39: 346-353.
[13] Mignon-Grasteau, S., Beaumont, C., Le Bihan-Duval, E., Poivey, J.P.,
de Rochambeau, H. and Ricard, F.H. (1999). Genetic parameters of
growth curve parameters in male and female chickens. British Poultry
Science. 40: 44-51.
[14] Nesamvuni, A.E., Malandzii, J., Zamanyimi, N.D. and Taylor, G.J.
(2000). Estimates of body weight in Nguru type cattle under commercial
management conditions. South African Journal of Animal Science. 13:
114-116.
[15] Olowofeso, O. (2009). Phenotypic correlations and prediction of body
weight and body size parameters in broiler chickens. Journal of Applied
Agricultural Research. I: 71-76.
[16] Oluyemi, J.A. and Roberts, S.A. (1979). Poultry Production in Warm
Wet Climates. 2nd Edition, Macmillan Press Ltd., London.
[17] Pundir, R.K., Singh, P.K. and Dangi, P.S. (2011). Factor analysis of
biometric traits of kankrej cows to explain body conformation. Asian-
Australian Journal of Animal Science. 24 (4): 449-456.
[18] Rance, K.A., McEntee, G.M. and McDevitt, R.M. (2002). Genetic and
phenotypic relationships between and within support and demand tissues
in a single line of broiler chicken. British Poultry Science. 43: 518–527.
[19] Yalcin, S., Settar, P., Ozkan S. and Cahaner, A. (1997). Comparative
evaluation of three commercial broiler stocks in hot versus temperate
climates. Poultry Science. 76: 921-929.