Repeatability estimate of body weight and linear body traits of F1 progenies of local x exotic chicken strains
This study estimated the repeatability of growth traits in different genotypes of chickens produced from crosses between indigenous hens and exotic sires. A total of 60 indigenous hens (30 brown and 30 black phenotypes) and 12 exotic sires (Arbor Acres and Ross 308) were used to produce four genetic groups (R1B1, R1B2, R2B1, and R2B2). Eggs were collected, incubated, and hatched under standard conditions, and the resulting F1 progenies were reared under uniform management. Repeatability estimates were calculated for body weight, body length, wing length, shank length, drumstick length, keel length, and breast width. Results showed moderate to high repeatability for most traits. Body weight (0.59 ± 0.35), body length (0.64 ± 0.77), and breast width (0.58 ± 0.09) exhibited the highest repeatability, indicating strong consistency and suitability for early selection. Wing length (0.45 ± 0.15), shank length (0.44 ± 0.29), drumstick length (0.57 ± 0.55), and keel length (0.49 ± 0.30) showed moderate repeatability, suggesting greater environmental influence and the need for repeated measurements. Among genotypes, R1B1 recorded the highest repeatability values, particularly for body weight (0.87 ± 0.17) and breast width (0.67 ± 0.21). The study concludes that body weight, body length, and breast width are reliable traits for early selection, while other traits require repeated measurements for accurate evaluation. These findings provide useful guidance for improving genetic selection strategies in tropical poultry production systems.
Keywords: Repeatability, growth traits, indigenous chickens, exotic sires, crossbreeding, F1 progenies.
