Heritability estimate of body weight and linear body traits of F1 progenies of local x exotic chicken strains
This study evaluated the heritability of body weight and linear body measurements in F₁ progenies of four chicken genotypes: R1B1 (Ross 308 × Brown dam), R1B2 (Ross 308 × Black dam), R2B1 (Arbor Acres × Brown dam), and R2B2 (Arbor Acres × Black dam). A total of 249 F1 progenies were used for the study. Heritability estimates were obtained from sire (h²ₛ), dam (h²𝒹), and combined (h²ₛ+𝒹) components. Body weight exhibited moderate heritability across all genotypes (h²ₛ+𝒹 = 0.50–0.64), while linear body traits such as body length, wing length, shank length, keel length, and breast width generally showed moderate to very high heritability (0.51–0.86). Maternal contributions were significant for several traits, particularly in crosses involving Black dams (R1B2 and R2B2). Traits with higher heritability, including wing length, shank length, and breast width, were identified as effective selection criteria for improving growth and carcass performance. Overall, the results indicate that crossbreeding exotic sires with local dam lines, especially Black dams, combined with selection based on linear traits, can enhance growth, skeletal development, and meat yield. These findings provide a strong genetic basis for designing effective poultry breeding programs in tropical environments.
Keywords: Heritability, Genotypes, Linear Body Traits, Crossbreeding, F1 Progenies
