Effect of feathering genes and mating pattern on short term egg production and egg quality traits of upgraded native chickens

E. N. Nwachukwu and C. C.Ogbu

Abstract

The objectives of the study were (1) to evaluate effect of feathering genes and mating pattern on short term egg production, external and internal egg quality traits and laying mortality of F2 main and reciprocal backcross progenies of Abor Acre broiler breeder (E) x Native normal feather (NF), naked neck (Na), and frizzle (F) chicken crosses, and (2) to compare the performance of these F2 hybrids with their F1 main and reciprocal crosses. The parental stock utilized consisted of mature normal feather, naked neck and frizzle native males and females and males and females of Abor Acre broiler breeder stock. The native chickens were mated to the broiler breeder cock using artificial insemination technique to generate the F1 progenies. After assessment of short term egg production and egg quality traits, all surviving main and reciprocal F1 hybrid layers namely, ExNF, ExNa, ExF and NFxE, NaxE, FxE, respectively were backcrossed to the broiler breeder cocks to produce F2 main [Ex(ExNF), Ex(ExNa), Ex(ExF)] and reciprocal[(Ex(NFxE), Ex(NaxE), (ExFxE)] backcross progenies. Parameters evaluated included short term (90 days) egg production (EN90), body weight at first egg (BWFE), weight of first egg (WFE), age at first egg (AFE), laying mortality, and various egg quality traits. Results showed that the reciprocal backcross individuals had higher BWFE, EN90, Haugh unit and higher weight of yolk and albumin but lower AFE, than their main backcross counterparts. The F2 main and reciprocal backcrosses surpassed their corresponding F1 main and reciprocal crossbred groups in BWFE and EN90 but had lower AFE and laying mortality. No significant differences were observed between groups in WFE, EWT90, shell thickness, yolk index and Haugh unit. It was concluded that reciprocal backcrossed individuals outperformed their main backcrossed counterparts in most of the measured parameters while the F2 individuals generally surpassed the F1 hybrids in most of the parameters except for AFE and laying mortality.