ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between quantitative traits and biologic markers in two commercial meat type chickens in a humid tropical environment. A total number of 60 each of Marshal and Anak broiler chicken strains were used for the experiment which lasted for 56 days (8 weeks). The experiment was carried out at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, where the birds were raised in separate deep litter pens. Each strain was replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. Data collected include body weight and linear body traits (keel length, shank length, thigh length, wing length and neck length) at weekly interval beginning from 3rd week and haematological parameters or biologic markers including packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, total protein and cholesterol. Data were analyzed using independent student’s t-test statistic and Pearson’s product moment correlations were done to establish associations between biologic markers and growth traits and among the growth traits. Results showed that Marshal strain had significantly(p<0.05) higher performances in growth traits including body weight, wing length and keel length and in haematology parameters including packed cell volume, haemoglobin and white blood cell across the weeks studied Eg week3-4;A-b and body weight=0.841, WBC and body weight=0.678,WBC and neck length=0.977,TPand neck length=0.643; for week 5-6:Hb and body weight=0.647, TP and body weight=0.884, cholesterol and keel length=0.653; for week 7-8:PCV and body weight =0.773.. Based on the association among the conformation traits, strain differences were noticed in the strong association between body weight and shank length as 0.720 and between body weight and wing length as 0.670 in the Anak broiler strain. Important associations were established between the growth traits and biologic markers which could be used in place of pure genetic markers. Thus, the following associations may be generally recommended for breed selection purposes: PCV with shank length, body weight; Hb with body weight, wing length; WBC with body weight, neck length, RBC with body weight; total protein with neck length, body weight; and cholesterol with wing length, thigh length, keel length, shank length and neck length. In conclusion, the Marshal strain performed higher than the Anak strain in terms of conformation traits and biologic marker characteristics across the ages studied which though reduced with advancement in age, and is thus recommended for farmers who prefer breeds with better conformation traits for economic reasons.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Declaration
ii
Certification
iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table
of contents vi
List
of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study 1
1.2
Objectives of the Study 2
1.3
Statement of Problem 2
1.4
Justification 3
CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Meat-
Type Chicken 4
2.2 Genetic
Marker and Its Application 5
2.3 Biologic
Markers 6
2.3.1 Erythrocytes 6
2.3.2 Leucocytes 7
2.3.3
Thrombocytes [plates] 8
2.3.4 The
plasma 9
2.3.5 Packed
cell volume [PCV] 9
2.3.6 Total protein
[TP] 10
2.3.7 Serum cholesterol 10
2.3.8
Haemoglobin [Hb] 11
2.4 Functional Importance of Blood 11
2.5 Linear
Body Measurement and its Importance in Poultry 12
CHAPTER THREE- MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Experimental
Site 13
3.2 Experimental
Animal 13
3.3 Experimental
Procedures 13
3.4 Parameters
measured 15
3.4.1 Quantitative
parameters 15
3.4.2
Haematological parameters [Biologic markers] 15
3.4.2.1 Determination of Packed cell volume [PCV] 16
3.4.2.2 Determination of haemoglobin [HB] 16
3.4.2.3 Determination of total protein [TP] 17
3.4.2.4 Determination of white blood cell [WBC] 17
3.4.2.5 Determination of red blood cell 17
3.4.2.6 Determination of cholesterol [CHL] 17
CHAPTER 4 – RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. 19
4.1 Performance
Of Body Weight And Linear Traits Of Anak and
Marshell Broiler Chickens 19
4.2 Performance
of Biologic Markers Of Anak And Marshall Broiler Chickens 23
4.3 Phenotypic Correlations of Body Weights
and Linear Traits in Anak and
Marshal
Broiler Chickens Strains 28
4.4
Correlation between Growth
Parameters and Biologic Markers in Anak and
Marshall
Broiler Chickens 32
CHAPTER 5 – CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion 37
5.2 Recommendations 39
References 40
LIST OF TABLES
4.1 Mean body weight and linear traits of
Anak and Marshal broiler chickens
20
4.2
Mean biologic markers of Anak and
Marshal broiler chickens 24
4.3 Phenotypic
correlations among linear traits in Anak and Marshal
broiler
chicken strain 29
4.4
Phenotypic correlations between growth parameters and biologic
Markers
in Anak and Marshal broiler chickens 33
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The greatest potential for poultry
consumption remains in the tropics, where per capita egg and meat consumption
levels are increasing (Aggrey et al., 2003). In many developing
countries of the world including Nigeria, the broiler industry plays a major
role in supplying the population with meat which is highly nutritious and
popularly consumed (Ukwu, 2004).
The broiler parents are usually
imported from the temperate region of the world (Ude et al., 2015). The
performance of these birds is affected by their genotype as well as the rearing
environment. The use of unsuitable genotypes in hot regions result in decreased
growth rate, reduced protein gain, high mortality and may cause loss of fitness
traits for those strains that are not suited in a particular environment; thus,
broiler producers’ needs to select those strains that are best suited in a
particular environment for rearing (Obike et al., 2016; Yalcinet al.,
1997).
Evaluation of performance of broiler
strains is carried out using various indices, such as growth traits (body
weight and body linear measurement) for correct evaluation and comparison. Udeh
(2015) and Razuki et al. (2011) reported significant strain differences
in body weight and linear body traits at various ages among broiler chickens.
The linear body traits are known to
be good estimators of body weight and thus they show strong genetic
associations (Sanda et al., 2014; Udeh and Ogbu, 2011).
Genetic variation within families,
and species, and between populations is assessed by genetic markers. Thus,
genetic markers are one of the basic tool for geneticists. Genetic marker may
be operationally defined as a phenotypically recognizable genetic trait that
can be used to identify a genetic locus, a linkage group or a recombination
event (Sanda et al., 2014).
According to Makka (2011), a broader
perspective of improved and efficient genetic study has emerged because,
selection, breeding and genetic improvement have a marked effect on
characteristics of the blood biochemistry; as researchers utilize the
biochemical parameters of the blood as markers in livestock species to enhance
productivity and reproductive performance (Nguyen and Tran, 2003; Abdi-Hachesoo
et al., 2011).
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study were;
Ø to
identify biologic markers that may be associated with important quantitative
traits in two commercial meat-type chickens (Anak and Marshal).
Ø to
determine the level of association among the linear body traits (quantitative
traits) in these broilers.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Poor performance of some meat-type
chickens within the tropical humid environment has made this work necessary. Low
productivity by these birds are seldom noticed in terms of poor body weight
gain and poor growth rate thereby making broiler production business not
profitable. Apart from poor performance, there is also the problem of
inadequate protein intake and insufficient broiler chicken meat availability.
The use of biologic markers to associate with important economic traits in
order to enhance marker assisted selection and genetic improvement is still a
young area of research. Thus, findings in this area are not yet exhaustive.
1.4 JUSTIFICATION
The need to increase the productivity
of these broilers in terms of fast attainment of body weight in order to enable
the farmer to maximise profit in the business makes this investigation
necessary. More importantly, there is need to establish permanent biologic
markers, whose manipulation could help in improving linear traits and body
weight of broiler chickens. A positive result from this study will help in
marker assisted selection with strong precision, which is capable of attracting
increased broiler meat production resulting to more profit for the farmer and
possibly enhance higher protein intake of the populace.
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