Biometric differentiation of growth traits in pullet breeds in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed to characterise three breeds of pullets based on their biometric differentiation and the effects of age on their body linear measurement. The three breeds of pullets under consideration were Noiler (N), FUNAAB Alpha (FUN), and ISA Brown (ISA). This study used two hundred and five pullets raised from a day old. At the 19th, 21st, and 23rd week of rearing, the pullets were weighed individually, and linear body measurements were taken. There was no significantly different effect (p > 0.05) between FUNAAB Alpha and Noiler breeds in all the traits considered at week 19, while a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between ISA Brown and others in all the traits except in breast girth (FUN-11.57 and ISA-10.46) and wing length (N-7.45 and ISA-6.97). The significant effects of breed and age occurred especially on the body weight for all the three ages under consideration (p < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between body weight and body measurements in all three breeds of pullets under investigation. The increase in the growth rate of any of the components increased live weight gain. The body weight of pullets could be determined accurately using body measurements such as wing length, wing span, and breast girth.

Keywords

• pullets
• breeds
• growth traits
• wing length
• wing span
• breast girth
• shank length