Strain and age effects on growth traits in broiler chickens

Abstract

Growth trait are quantitative traits influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of strain and age on growth traits of four different strains of broiler chicken. Four hundred (400) day old broiler chicks comprising of one hundred Cobb, Ross, Arbor acre and Marshall strains each, were purchased from reputable hatcheries and raised under the same management for a period of 10 weeks. Data collected on the growth traits were subjected to analysis of variance and Pearson correlation. Effect of strain was significant (p<0.05) on body weight at weeks 2 and 8, with highest values in Arbor acre (313.20 g) and Cobb (2012.80 g), respectively. Significant effect of strain on wing length was observed at weeks 2, 4 and 8, highest values were observed in Aboraca (10.50 g), Ross (13.60 g) and cobb (22.40 g). Wing span was affected by strain in weeks 2, 8 and 10 while breast girth, neck length and body length were significantly affected at weeks 2 and 8. Shank length was significantly affected at weeks 2 and 10 while beak length was affected at week 2. Significant effect (p<0.05) of age was observed in all the strains. Growth traits significantly increased from week 2 to week 10. The phenotypic correlations among the traits were positive and very highly significant (p<0.00001). It ranged, 0.857 to 0.977 (Marshal); 0.854 to 0.959 (Ross); 0.851 to 0.977 (Aboraca); 0.903 to 0.986 (Cobb). Strain and age had significant effect on growth traits and the traits are positively highly correlated in all the strains.