Carcass traits, haematology and serum biochemical parameters of Nigerian indigenous chickens and their crosses with marshall

Abstract

This study investigated the genetic variation in carcass traits and blood parameters of local naked neck and normal-feathered chickens and their crosses with Marshall broiler chickens. Two hundred and sixty three chickens consisting of 50 purebred Marshalls (M), 38 naked neck (Nk) and 48 normal-feathered (N), 61Marshall x naked neck (MNk) and 66Marshall x normal-feathered(MN) chickens were used for the study. Data were collected on carcass traits, haematology and serum biochemical parameters and were analysed using the General Linear Model procedure of Statistical Analysis System. Carcass traits such as eviscerated weight and weights of thigh, drumstick, breast, wings and organs were significantly (P < 0.0001) affected by genotype. Results showed that the purebred Marshall had the highest values in most of the traits followed by their crossbreds. In organs such as gizzard, liver and heart the local normal feathered ranked equal with its crossbred. Sex significantly (P< 0.05) affected carcass traits. Males consistently had higher values than females in all the parameters measured. Genotype significantly (P<0.05) influenced blood parameters measured. TheMNk had the highest value for PCV(32.30±0.99%),Hb (10.85±0.31g/dL),Na (148.58±3.94 mmol/L) and K (7.88±1.07 mol/L). The Nk and N purebreds had the lowest values for Hb, WBC, RBC and highest values for globulin. The study revealed that the crossbreds obviously performed better than their local purebreds counterpart in carcass traits measured. Therefore, to obtain better cut-parts in the Nigerian local naked neck and normal feathered chickens, crossbreeding with the Marshall broiler breed is recommended.