Assessment of Funaab Alpha Broiler Chicken of Genetic Gain For Breast Girth

                                      ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to estimate and study the genetic gain (ΔG) of FUNAAB Alpha broiler chicken that was selected mainly for breast girth at week 0 to week 10, to provide support for genetic improvement. A total of 200 FUNAAB Alpha broiler chicken were sourced for and fed ad libitum. Data were collected at the end of 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th week; birds/strain was selected from both strains. The initial breast girth of the chicks was taken at day old using a tape rule. Subsequently, their breast girth was taken every 2 weeks to week 10 and all data collected were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Mean separation was done using tukey variation contained in SAS (2010). the effect of genotype was observed to had significant effect (P<0.05) on the breast girth at week 2 (Nm: 12.62 ± 0.18a, Fr: 10.94 ± 0.12b) , week 4 (Nm: 15.96 ± 0.08a, Fr: 12.51 ± 0.34b) and week 6 (Nm: 18.92 ± 0.08a, Fr: 17.61 ± 0.42b), and the heritability (h2) estimates observed at week 2 (13.19), week 6 (6.88) and week 8 (1.90), are low compared to the estimate observed at week 4 (29.70) and the genetic gain  (ΔG) estimates for breast girth were low at week 2, 6 and 8 except for week 4 that the value obtained is high (1.09) compared to other genetic gain values. From this study, it can be concluded that selection for improvement of breast girth should be done at week 4 for the benefit of the broiler breeder enterprise. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents               

 Pages Title page          i

Declaration          ii

Certification          iii

Dedication          iv

Acknowledgment         v

Abstract          vii

Table of contents         viii

List of tables          x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction         1

1.1 Justification         4

1.2.1 Broad objectives        5

1.2.2 Specific objectives        5

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 History and domestication of chicken      6

2.2 Chicken production in Nigeria      6

2.3  Broiler management in the tropics      7

2.4 Genetic Improvement in Chicken      8

2.5 Genetic parameter        9

2.7 Heritability         10

2.8 Importance of Heritability 11

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD      12

3.1 Experimental Site        12

3.2   Experimental Birds and their Management     12

3.3   Data collection        13

3.6  Data analysis         13

3.7  Estimation of heritability       13

3.8 Determination of Genetic gain      13   

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results          14

4.2 Least Square Mean showing the effect of genotype of FUNAAB  Alpha Broiler Chicken for Breast girth     17

4.3 Genetic gain and Heritability of FUNAAB Alpha for Breast girth   on week 2 to 8 week        19

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION  21

5.1 Discussion         21

5.2 Conclusion         22

5.3 Recommendation        22

References          23