Authors: M. W.heto, S.O.Peters,K. Akano, C.O.N. Ikeobi, Olufunmilayo A. Adebambo
Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference Genetics Society of Nigeria
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to study the comparative growth performance of pure local, crossbred and exotic chickens reared intensively. Body weight and linear body measurements of some local, exotic and crossbred chickens were, taken for 12 weeks. Effects of genotype were found to be significant (P<0.05) for body weight, body length, breast girth, backbone length and breast length. he straight cross, (exotic female x local male) consistently produced higher value than the reciprocal in all the ages for all the traits considered. Heterosis was found to be highest in body weight followed by breast girth, breast length, backbone length and then the shank length.