Performance of F1 Generation of Nigerian Indigenous Chicken and Plymouth Rock

Abstract

Indigenous chickens in Nigeria are identified by low egg production (EP), small egg size, stunted growth, and light body weight (LBW). The research was conducted to evaluate body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), feed cost (FC) per kg gain of F₁ generation of indigenous chicken (IC), growth rate, hematological parameters and carcass traits and their crosses. Total of 168 matured ICs of different types [normal feathered (NF), frizzle feathered (FF) and naked neck (Nn) ] were purchased and managed intensively. The birds were selected at 8—12^th week for higher body weight and crossbred with Plymouth rock (PR) cock. The fertile eggs were hatched to form F₁, Mating was with inter se and crossbreeding between IC x PR. The first cross was between NF x NF, FF x FF, and Nn x Nn. NFx PR, FFx P R, and Nn x PR cock, respectively, produced 50% IC and 50% PR in F₁. The result revealed that there was a substantial difference in weight gain (WG) and FC/kg/gain in all genotypes. All growth indices studied (weight gain, growth rate, specific growth rate and growth efficiency) declined with age. Crossbred group had higher packed cell volume (PCV) value NF x PR (29.15%), Nn X PR (28.23%), and FF x PR (28.35%) and low PCV values in indigenous genotypes. Carcass weight was significantly higher in crossbred birds than indigenous genotypes. In conclusion, further studies to upgrade schematically to F₂ generations would be very viable for future selection and improvement programmes of these crossbreds.