Abstract:
A total of 44 mature chickens (about 50 weeks old) males and females inbred naked necked and
Frizzle Feathered chickens were crossed to generate a total of 180 day-old(97 Na x Na and 83 F
x F chicks) realized from main and reciprocal crossbreeding were used in the study. Mean dayold
weights of the Inbreds( Main crossbreds) were 22.17g, 23.87g, 25.50g for (Na x Na), (F x F)
and (Na x F) respectively and were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the mean day-old weight
of 29.50g for the reciprocal(F x Na) crossbred chickens. These reciprocal crossbreds maintained
their superiority in body weight, had higher feed intake and better feed conversion as well as
body weight gains till the end of the experiment at 16th week. The Linear Body Measurements
(LBMs). Body length, Wing length, Keel length, Breast width except shank length were longer
in the reciprocal crossbreds than in their main cross counterpart. The final range of body weights
achieved in the inbreds, Main crossbreds (654.0g, 773.67, 895.96g) for (Na x Na, F x F) and Na
x F respectively were significantly lower (P<0.05) than 972.83g for the reciprocal crossbred
depicting the inbreds and main crossbreds as light weight birds which could be developed as
egg-laying strains or lines and the reciprocal crosses as heavy weight strains which can be
developed as meat type or dual purpose birds. Results of the experiment on heterosis
performance (table 2) showed positive heterosis with significant differences (P<0.05) among the
F1 progenies(Main and reciprocal) over their parents in all parameters monitored. In general, the
performance of these crossbred chickens showed evidence of maternal influence with each group
behaving like its dam-of-origin. The reciprocal crossbred chickens out- performed all other
genetic groups with respect to body weight and other growth parameters development. The
percentage heterotic superiority of the reciprocal crossbreds over the mean inbred parents
showed that the Frizzle gene may be advantageous in producing fast growing chickens in derived
savannah tropics.
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