Effect of feathering genes on growth performance of F2 backcrosses and comparison of F1 and F2 crosses of Abor Acre broiler breeder x native chickens in humid tropical environment

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, brooding and rearing mortalities of F2 main and reciprocal backcross progenies of Abor Acre broiler breeder x native chicken crosses and to compare their F1 and F2 backcross progenies. The base population used in the study consisted of mature (~ 48 weeks) male and female native chickens and exotic (Abor Acre) broiler breeder parent stock. The native chicken varieties were made up of normal feather, naked neck and frizzle genotypes. These birds were mated to the Abor Acre broiler parent stocks in main and reciprocal fashion generating F1 main and reciprocal crossbreds. Females of these F1 hybrids were then mated back to the broiler breeder cock to generate F2 main and reciprocal backcross progenies that were evaluated in the present study. Data analyzed include body weight (BWT) and linear body parameters (LBPs), average feed intake (AFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), brooding and rearing mortalities. Comparisons between genetic groups for these parameters were done by means of analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. Results indicated improved growth performance and feed conversion ratios in the F2 reciprocal backcross groups compared to their F2 main backcross counterparts. The F2 individuals in both crosses were superior to F1 crossbred populations. Chick mortality rates were higher in main and reciprocal backcross groups involving the naked neck genotype compared to other plumage types. It was concluded that backcrossing the F1 individuals to the exotic broiler breeder cocks increased the genetic profile of the backcross lines resulting in enhanced growth performance of progenies. Crossbreeding of exotic and local chicken varieties generated progenies that had higher genetic potentials for growth relative to the local strains and better adaptability relative to the exotic breed. However, incubation and brooding strategies capable of minimizing mortalities at embryonic, brooding and rearing phases should be explored and integrated in local chicken improvement programmes involving the use of these plumage reducing genes for optimal results.

Comparative Study of Phenotypes and Genetics Related to the Growth Performance of Crossbred Thai Indigenous (KKU1 vs. KKU2) Chickens under Hot and Humid Conditions

“…The FCR showed that KKU1 chickens are more appropriate and cost-effective for commercial use in the production of crossbred indigenous chickens rather than KKU2 chickens. Moreover, the results were lower than those previously reported for other chickens, such as crossbred Nigerian indigenous [26], crossbred Korean indigenous [27], and crossbred Indian indigenous [28] chickens. In addition, the survival rate of both the KKU1 and KKU2 chickens was higher than 90%.…”

Growth Performance Traits and Egg Quality of Indigenous Yoruba Ecotype Chickens Crossbred With Lohmann Brown Cocks

“…This higher egg quality could be due to higher body weight of F 2 progenies compared to the indigenous and F 1 progenies, since increased body weight may connote higher qualitative egg characteristics like the egg weight (Anyaegbu et al, 2016;Chineke, 2001). The result of our study is also similar with the study of Nwachukwu and Ogbu (2015), who reported that reciprocal backcrossed eggs were better in respect of shell weight, yolk weight, yolk index, albumen weight and haugh units than their F 1 bird eggs.…”