To evaluate heterosis, reciprocal effect, general and specific combining abilities for bodyweight, a diallel crossing experiment was conducted using three genotypes of Nigerian indigenous chickens: normal (N), frizzle (F) and naked-neck (Na). A total of 601 chicks was hatched from all possible matings between the three genotypes. The chicks used in this study were hatched from a foundation stock of 90 chickens comprising 25 hens and 5 cocks for each of the three genotypes. A mating ratio of 1 male : 5 females was employed. Furthermore, data on bodyweight were scrutinized with complete diallel analysis after they had been corrected for significant effects of hatch of birds using least squares constants. The results revealed that bodyweight (BWT) was significantly influenced by genetic groups with the frizzle-naked (FNa) having the best performance at all ages (4 -20 weeks) except at hatch, with a mean final BWT of 1173 g at 20 weeks old. The next best performing was its reciprocal, the naked-frizzle (NaF), with a mean final BWT of 1162 g. Furthermore, the FNa gave the best estimates for heterosis and specific combining ability, while the F and NNa gave the best estimates for general combining ability and reciprocal effect, respectively. Therefore, the F genotype as sire and the Na as dam provided the most suitable combination for improved BWT. Furthermore, the use of the Na genotype as dam was more suitable owing to the significant reciprocal effect. ______________________________________________________________________________________

A total of 200 goats and 25 microsatellite markers proposed by the Food and Agricultural Organization and the International Society for Animal Genetics (FAO-ISAG) were used to determine the genetic diversity of three breeds of the Nigerian indigenous goats, namely Sahel (60), Red Sokoto (60), West African Dwarf (60) and one strain; Kano Brown (20). Genetic differentiation between the breeds and strain ranged from 0.011 to 0.037, and the least genetically differentiated populations were Kano Brown and Red Sokoto. Molecular variations were observed to be higher within populations (96%) than among populations (4%), which suggest higher heterozygosity within populations. This study showed that the Nigerian goats are admixed due to extensive cross-breeding and high gene flow amongst the breeds, and that the goats are geographically distributed in two major locations. Measures to conserve the uniqueness/distinctiveness of the Nigerian goat breeds should be sought, and gene flow between populations should be controlled by adopting effective breeding and management practices.

A study was conducted at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Shika, Zaria, Nigeria to access some semen quality characteristics and to determine the effect of mating ratio on fertility and hatchability of Hubbard broiler breeders. 20 cocks were examined for semen quality characteristics. Parameters evaluated were: ejaculate volume, semen pH, sperm concentration and sperm motility. Sequel to semen quality evaluation, hens were divided into three groups according to mating ratio (cock to hen) which included ratios 1:6, 1:7 and 1:8 with each group replicated 3 times. Each replicate was housed separately in pens. Hatchable eggs were collected after ten days grace period of mating and were set in the incubator. There were six hatches and fertility and hatchability parameters were calculated. Results obtained for semen quality characteristics showed that mean values for volume (ml) was 0.55±0.04, motility (%) was 83.50, concentration was 3.91x10 9 /ml, pH was 7.40 and average body weight was 4.73 kg. Correlations between the semen quality characteristics and body weight showed that pH was negatively but not significantly correlated with volume, concentration and body weight. The correlation between volume and concentration was high (0.92) and highly significant (p<0.001). Other correlations though positive were not significant (p>0.05). Mating ratio significantly (p<0.05) affected number of eggs fertile, number hatched and percent fertile. Birds mated in the ratio of 1:6 had the highest values for number fertile, number hatch and percent fertile but not significantly different from ratio 1:8. However the birds in the ratio of 1:7 had similar performance with those in the ratio 1:8 for percent fertile. High and significant correlation between ejaculate volume and concentration indicated that large ejaculate volume resulted in high concentration. Mating ratio of 1:6 was recommended to enhance fertility and hatchability especially in pedigree hatching.

Context Quail production is increasingly emerging as a low-capital, cheap, alternative source for supplementing protein intake among peoples in tropical countries such as Nigeria. Aims To increase animal protein sources, promote their availability to rural people, and reduce the unit cost of protein to the people, the effect of dietary crude protein on feed consumption, egg productivity and egg-quality characteristics of quail in the high-altitude Ekiti area of Nigeria was evaluated. Methods In total, 142 mature Japanese quails, divided into four groups with four replicates per group, were fed with four diets differing in dietary protein concentration with a near-isocaloric maize–groundnut cake–soybean meal-based diets for 10 weeks. Three experimental diets (18%, 22% and 24% crude protein (CP)) were tested and compared with a control 20% CP diet, in a completely randomised design of four replicates per treatment. Each consisted of 10 quails/cage at 5 weeks of age. Parameters measured on each quail included feed intake, egg number and egg-quality characteristics. Data were subjected to general linear model, regression and Duncan multiple-range procedures for means separation by SAS®v9.4 (2013). Key results Increasing dietary protein from 18% to 24% in the diet of experimental quails decreased daily feed intake, hen-day egg production (HDP) and average egg mass (AEM; P < 0.05) during egg lay, whereas egg weight and diameter, egg shell weight, albumen weight, height and percentage, and yolk height increased significantly (P < 0.05). The 18% CP diet produced the highest HDP and AEM responses (P < 0.05). The 20% CP diet produced the highest numerical shell and yolk percentages (P > 0.05). Birds on 22% CP diet consumed the lowest quantity of feed (daily feed intake, P < 0.05) and had the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR, P > 0.05). Birds on 24% CP diet produced the highest egg weight and diameter, egg shell weight, albumen weight, height and percentage, and yolk height (P < 0.05). Haugh unit values were high and uninfluenced by an increasing dietary protein concentration (P > 0.05). The high and above-threshold environmental temperature–humidity index value of the test station resulted in heat stress during egg production, and was considered major cause of the generally low productivity and low egg-trait values obtained. Conclusions The 18% CP diet produced the highest HDP and AEM, while the 22% CP diet was the most efficiently utilised diet, and 24% CP diet stimulated higher egg-weight and egg-quality traits. Implications Massive quail egg production could be sustained among rural people with the 18% CP diet, with adequate energy level, and without adverse effects on egg quality.

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