Genetic Studies on Growth Traits in Rajasri Variety of Backyard Chicken

Abstract

Background: Rajasri, a synthetic dual purpose variety suitable for backyard rearing. The current study was aimed to study the inheritance of Rajasri birds. Methods: This study was carried out during April 2019 to August 2019 at poultry research station, Hyderabad. Data collected on 6980 chicks produced from 220 sires and 660 dams in half sib mating in 4 hatches were utilized to estimate the genetic parameters.Result: Highly significant (P≤0.01) influence of hatch and sex on body weights and average daily gains and shank length was observed. The overall least-squares means of body weights at birth, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 weeks of age were 32.35±0.4, 80.87±0.17, 184.29 ±0.44, 351.49±0.76, 576.16±1.10, 741.31±0.97, 878.03±0.91, 1038.9±0.91, 1160.61±0.99, 1271.59±1.27 and 1370.64±1.72g and shank length at 4 and 6 weeks of age were 47.49±0.05 and 62.18±0.06 mm, respectively. The overall least-square means of average daily gain peaks at 6-8 weeks age. Heritability estimates of body weights through sire component ranged from 0.04±0.016 (BW20) to 0.44±0.05 (BW0). Genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weights were ranged from 0.02±0.14 (BW6-BW14) to 0.98±0.01 (BW16-BW18) and 0.003±0.01 (BW2-BW20) to 0.93±0.01 (BW18-BW20), respectively.