No abstract

Gross and morphometric studies were carried out on the oviducts of three Nigerian indigenous genotypes of chicken. Fifteen adult laying chickens of three genotypes {five female per genotype of Normal Feathered (NoF), Naked Neck (Na) and Frizzle Feathered (FF)} were bought from Mokwa local markets. They were quarantined for two weeks, stabilized for another week, live weights were taken and then slaughtered using Halal method. After careful evisceration, segments of oviduct were examined grossly and then weights, lengths, thickness and width of the segments were obtained. The mean weights, lengths and widths of the infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, vagina and entire oviduct of the three studied genotypes were not significantly different (P>0.05) from one another, except the width of uterus (P≤0.05). All the three genotypes have similar gross and morphometric patterns except that the uterus of Na and FF had significantly (P≤0.05), wider width compared to the NoF. This study in addition to its contribution to the knowledge of comparative avian anatomy up to genotype level, has also established a comparative baseline data for further gross and morphometric reproductive studies in these genotypes of Nigerian indigenous chickens.

The study was conducted to assess the osteometric effects of surgical caponisation on long bones of cockerel chickens. Sixty- (60-) day-old chicks were distributed into two experimental groups with thirty (30) cockerels per group. The birds were caponised at eight (8) weeks of age. The mean of final body weights of caponized groups was significantly higher (P≤0.05) than the uncaponised group. The weights of all long bones measured as well as lengths between the two groups were not statistically different (P>0.05) from one another except the weight of femur of the caponized group and the lengths of tibia and tarsometatarsus (P<0.05) that differed significantly from one another (P<0.05). All the proximal, midshaft, and distal diameters of all the long bones measured between the two groups were not statistically different (P>0.05) from one another except the midshaft diameter of ulna that was significantly higher (P<0.05) in caponized group. It was concluded that caponisation of cockerel chickens at eight (8) weeks of age has no significant osteometric effects (P>0.05) on almost all the long bones studied when they were normalised to the final body weights.