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Dec 31, 2025Keywords:
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Predicting Body Weight in Crossbred Chickens: A Comparison of Linear and Quadratic Models Using Morphometric Traits
Abstract
Accurate prediction of body weight is essential for effective selection and management in poultry breeding programs. This study evaluated the linear and quadratic relationships between body weight (BW) and morphometric traits—body length (BL), wing length (WL), shank length (SL), drumstick length (DS), keel length (KL), and breast width (BWDT)—in four F₁ genotypes of chickens produced from crosses of exotic broiler sires (Ross 308 and Arbor Acres) with local Brown and Black dams (R1B1, R1B2, R2B1, R2B2). Linear regression analyses revealed that body length, wing length, and keel length were the strongest predictors of BW, with R² values ranging from 55% to 68%. Quadratic regression models improved predictive accuracy (R² = 70–78%), indicating nonlinear relationships between skeletal growth and body weight. Among the genotypes, R2B2 showed the highest predictive power for most traits, highlighting its superior potential for growth and carcass development. These findings demonstrate that morphometric traits, particularly BL, WL, and KL, can be effectively used as indirect selection criteria for body weight, and that quadratic models offer enhanced precision for predicting growth in crossbred chickens under tropical conditions.
