Phenotypic Characterization of the Bunaji Cattle Breed in Oyo State, Nigeria

Nine body measurements of 859 (401 females and 458 males) Bunaji cattle of various ages (1 - >4 years) were collected over a period of 4 months (July - October) at the Bodija livestock and Akinyele international livestock markets in Ibadan, Oyo state of Nigeria. The parameters measured were head to shoulder (HTS), shoulder to tail drop (STD), body length (BLT), heart girth (HTG), height at withers (HTW), canon circumference (CCR), tail length (TLT), horn length (HLT) and ear length (ELT). Phenotypic traits such as dewlap, coat color, horn type, ear type, hump type and navel flap were also examined by visual assessment. The means and standard deviations obtained for the body measurements were 120.18 ± 7.94, 145.99 ± 14.28, 47.31 ± 6.71, 117.35 ± 12.36 and 37.08 ± 14.11 for HTW, HTG, HTS, STD and HLT respectively. The coefficient of variation of the body dimensions were high ranging from 6.60% for HTW to 39.44% for HLT. Sex of the animal had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the body dimensions. Correlation coefficients for the relationship between body measurements ranged from 0.06 (HTS and STD) to 0.89 (STD and BL) for the males and 0.04 (HTS and STD) to 0.89 (STD and BL) for female. The high and significant relationship (

A comparison of pre and early-laying characteristics of four commercial pullet strains in warm wet climate

This study determined the level of pre-production and production differences between four commercial pullet strains, Lohmann Tradition (LT), Lohmann LSL Classic (LC), Bovans Goldline (BG) and Bovans Nera (BN), bred in Europe but whose eggs were hatched in Nigeria. The study also compared these results with the performance recorded in their management guides. There were significant differences (

Biometric measurements of body and internal organ traits of indigenous chickens on free range in South-Eastern Nigeria

A biometric study of the body conformation and internal organs of the indigenous chickens on free range in rural areas of Imo State in South-Eastern Nigeria was conducted using 5 Local Government Areas. It was observed that the predominant plumage colours were black (51.25%) and brown (36.25%) for the hens while the cocks were predominantly black (30.36%) and red (25.01%). The dressed colour of the birds was majorly yellow and white comprising of (70.68%) and (29.32%) for the hens and (77.75%) and (22.25%) for the cocks, respectively. Shank colour was black (95.4%) and white (4.65%) for the hens, while the cocks were (54.24%) black and (46.76%) white respectively. The mean shank length, neck length and back length of 6.725±0.09 cm, 11.11±0.20 cm and 17.77±0.29 cm were estimated for the hens, while the cocks had mean shank length, neck length and back length of 7.79±0.13 cm, 11.35±0.30 cm and 18.29±0.44 cm, respectively. The mean body weights of the hens and cocks were 868.48±21.18 g, and 1032±57.84 g, respectively with cocks being significantly (P<0.05) higher in body weight and back length than hens. The mean biometric and internal organ measures of chickens per Local Government Area (LGA) were also investigated with no significant (P>0.05) differences among chickens in the five LGAs except for weight of proventriculus and full intestine. Regression equations for the prediction of body weight using the biometric and internal organ measurements were obtained under two functional forms (linear and semi-log) which showed a weak coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 7.5 to 24.3% for biometric measurements, and a strong coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 21.4 to 98.89% for internal organs. There was no significant correlation coefficient (r) between the biometric measurements taken, but strong and significant correlation (r) was shown between internal organs and body weight. Therefore, indigenous chickens of South-Eastern Nigeria exhibit wide variability among phenotypes in terms of physical appearance, biometric measurement and internal organ characteristics. More so, the internal organs can be predicted more effectively than biometric measurements by the body weight, using regression models of the two functional forms; and significant indirect selection can be made to improve internal organs like gizzard weight using the bodyweight, due to significant correlation coefficient established.Keywords: - biometric, internal organs, prediction equation, indigenous chicken, extensive, South -Eastern Nigeria

Effect of genotype, sex and parity on growth traits of diallel crossed Nigerian indigenous and exotic pigs

Three breeds of pig namely; Indigenous (IN), Large white (LW) and Landrace (LR) breeds were crossed in full diallel arrangement to evaluate the effects of cross, sex and parity on growth traits as well as establish the nature of gene action due to the growth traits at birth, weaning and 20 weeks of age. Each line crossed in a full 3x3 diallel cross resulted in a total of 132, 107 and 105 pigs at birth, weaning and 20 weeks of age respectively. General Combining Ability (GCA), Specific Combining Ability (SCA) and Reciprocal Effects (RE) were estimated for eight traits which includes Body weight (BWT), Ear length (EL), Tail length (TL), Heart girth (HG), Snout circumference (SC), Snout length (SL), Height at wither (HW) and Body length (BL). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) among the various crosses, sex and parity but no significant interaction. The LRxLW cross consistently expressed higher body weight and morphometric traits than other crosses at birth, weaning and 20 weeks of age, while the INxIN expressed least body weight at birth and 20 weeks of age, while LWxIN was the least at weaning. There was no significant GCA effect (P>0.05) on all the traits measured, but SCA was significant (P<0.01) for all morphometric traits and body weight. RE was significant for body weight at birth and weaning, while at 20 weeks, was significant for SC and HW. The non-significant GCA estimates along with significant SCA estimates suggest that the genes governing the eight traits measured do not act additively, but non-additively, implying that improvement of those traits may be attained by exploiting heterosis through planned crossbreeding. However, the significant reciprocal effect in body weight and some morphometric traits indicates maternal and sex-linked effect at the affected ages, implying that significant reciprocal cross may be used to attain high performance for the growth traits in the progeny.Key words: Diallel cross, General combining ability, Specific combining ability, Reciprocaleffects, Indigenous pigs, Growth traits