Agriculturl Journl 7 (3): 0-5, 01 ISSN: 1816-9155 Medwell Journls, 01 Comprtive Study of Three Indigenous Chicken Breeds of South Afric: Body Weight nd Liner Body Mesurements 1 1 1 O.J. Ali, J.W. Ng mi, D. Norris nd S.S.A. Egen 1 Deprtment of Agriculturl Economics nd Animl Production, University of Limpopo, Privte Bg X1106, 077 Soveng, South Afric Deprtment of Animl Production, Federl University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minn, Niger Stte, Nigeri Astrct: The im of this study ws to undertke comprtive evlution of the ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of three indigenous chicken reeds of South Afric, nmely: Nked neck, Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek. A totl of records otined from the three intensively rered reeds were used in the study. Dt were collected t the experimentl frm of the University of Limpopo, South Afric. Tretment mens were seprted using t-test nd nlysis of vrince with the level of significnce set t 5%. Body weight ws correlted with the liner ody mesurements. The prmeters evluted were: Body Weight: BW, Body Length: BL, Body Girth: BG, Wing Length: WL, Shnk Thickness: ST nd Shnk Length: SL. The mesurements were tken t mturity ( weeks of ge). Results showed tht mles of the three reeds were sttisticlly (p<0.05) hevier hd longer ody, etter ody girth, wing length, shnk thickness nd shnk length thn the femles. Comprison of the three reeds lso reveled tht Potchefstroom koekoek chicken ws significntly (p<0.05) etter thn the Nked neck nd Vend chickens for the trits evluted with the exception of shnk length where no significnt (p>0.05) differences were oserved etween the three reeds. No differences (p>0.05) were oserved etween the Nked neck nd Vend chickens for ody weight, ody girth nd shnk thickness. BW ws est correlted with SL (Nked neck; r = 0.9), ST (Vend; r = 0.80) nd ST (Potchefstroom koekoek; r = 0.80). BW ws est predicted using SL (Nked neck; -0.519+0.085SL), ST (Vend; -0.1381+ 0.4515ST) nd ST (Potchefstroom koekoek; -0.004+0.461ST). It ws concluded tht reed differences do exist etween the three indigenous South Africn chicken reeds studied nd these differences re in fvour of the mles nd the Potchefstroom koekoek chickens. Key words: Indigenous chickens, ody weight nd liner mesurements, Nked neck, Vend, Potchefstroom koekoek, Nigeri INTRODUCTION tolernce, met qulity nd generl hrdiness (Ssewnyn et l., 003). In rurl communities, free-rnge Afric is lessed with lrge numer of indigenous chickens contriute significntly to the livelihoods of the chicken reeds. Theses chickens proly went through households. They re esily disposed of when need severl genetic chnges leding to their sizes eing rises y ny of the fmily memers. They provide mnure reduced (in res of food scrcity) or incresed (in res re required for specil festivls to meet socil oligtions where food ws plenty). The indigenous chickens re nd they re essentil for mny trditionl ceremonies nd resistnt to most of the endemic poultry diseses nd tretment of illness. People, generlly, prefer their met pests rvging their exotic cousins (Sil et l., 00). They which is sid to e tstier (Kolwole, 010). Soniy (1990) re generlly less productive in terms of eggs nd met. reported tht the indigenous chicken is sdly rrely Despite these drwcks, the indigenous chickens ply ccorded primry considertion in economic development vitl role in the socil economic life of those who keep ctivities in most Africn countries, hence less reserch them. Aprt from eing source of met nd eggs, they ctivities hd een focussed on them for decdes. This re lso source of income for mny resource-poor hs limited their potentils. people prticulrly those living in the rurl res. They re Ltely, there is growing interest in the study of the vlued lso for their ility to scvenge, disese vrious chickens indigenous to Afric (Ymi, 1995; Gueye, Corresponding Author: O.J. Ali, Deprtment of Agriculturl Economics nd Animl Production, University of Limpopo, Privte Bg X1106, 077 Soveng, South Afric 0
Agric. J., 7 (3): 0-5, 01 1998; Adetyo nd Bfunso, 001; Nidoo, 003; Body weight of individul irds ws mesured using Demeke, 004; Ijiy et l., 010; Yousso et l., 010; 0.01 g sensitivity level electronic scle (RADWAG). The Groelr et l., 010). This might e due to the following mesurements were recorded using tpe rule recognition of the indigenous chicken s gene pool for (cm): Body Length (BL), Body Girth (BG), Wing Length importnt trits tht hve to do with dptility, vigour, (WL), Shnk Thickness (ST) nd Shnk Length (SL). The hrdiness s well s resistnce to diseses nd pests liner ody mesurements were s descried y (Byrug, 007). Also, the distinctive colour of their Fyeye et l. (006). The mesurements were s crcss, the tough muscle of the met, shell colour nd descried: yolk colour re of ppel to most consumers (Groelr et l., 010). The Southern Africn region hs Body length: Distnce from the tip of the ek through indigenous chickens dpted to tht prticulr gro- the ody trunk to the til. ecologicl niche. Groelr et l. (010) listed some of the reeds s Potchefstroom koekoek, Vend, Ovmo, Body girth: The circumference of the rest region. Nked neck, Ntl gme, Zulu nd Nguni. These reeds hve distinctive chrcteristics which hve endered them Wing length: Length of the wing from the scpul joints to mny frmers or keepers. The three indigenous reeds to the lst digit of the wing. of interest to the reserchers: Potchefstroom koekoek, Vend nd Nked neck hve een descried y Shnk length: Length of the trso-mettrsus from the Groelr et l. (010). Their reserch, however centred hock joint to the mettrsl pd. on the description nd egg production potentils of the reeds. More informtion is however required on these Shnk thickness: Dimeter of the trso-mettrsus just reeds so s to e le to tp fully into their genetic elow the spur. potentil. The im of this study, therefore ws to undertke comprtive evlution of the three reeds All the dt collected from the experiment were with prticulr reference to their ody weight nd liner nlyzed using the t-test, ANOVA nd correltion ody mesurements. Dt generted could e used in procedures of Instt+ for windows (Instt, 006). Body selection progrmmes towrd further improvement of the weight of ech reed ws correlted with the liner ody reeds. mesurements of ech reed. Body weight ws lso predicted in the chickens from the vrious liner ody MATERIALS AND METHODS mesurements. Significnt level ws set t p<0.05. The study ws conducted t the experimentl frm of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the University of Limpopo, South Afric. The frm is situted 10 km North-West of the Turfloop cmpus of the The results of the effect of sex on the ody weight University of Limpopo. The mient tempertures round nd liner ody mesurements of the three indigenous the re re >30 C during Summer nd <5 C in Winter. It chicken reeds re shown in Tle 1. Mle Nked neck, lies t ltitude 7.55 South nd longitude 4.77 Est. The Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek chickens were re receives men nnul rinfll of <400 mm. significntly (p<0.05) etter thn the femle Nked neck, The chicks used in the experiment were htched t Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek chickens, respectively the experimentl frm of the university nd rised under in ll the prmeters studied. In the Nked neck chickens, intensive mngement system in closed confinement sexul dimorphism ccounted for 6.15, 13.56, 13.90, 0, from dy old to the point of ly ( weeks). The irds were 7.7 nd 0.9% of the differences oserved in the BW, rised on deep litter. The irds were fed 16.10% crude BL, BG, WL, ST nd SL of the chickens, respectively. 1 protein diet with energy level of 11.97 MJ kgg DM. The Sexul dimorphism ccounted for 18.58, 15.60, 17.18, 14.9, diet ws composed of the following ingredients: mize 14.74 nd 14.67% of the differences in BW, BL, BG, WL, (64%), mize gluten mel (11.67%), fish mel (5%), soy Hi ST nd SL of the Vend chickens while it ccounted for pro (4.37%), full ft soy (4.91%), Di sodium phosphte 3.35, 8.15,.86, 3.90, 3.64 nd 1.73% differences in (1.33%), DL-methionine (0.0%), L-lysine (0.0%), CCO3 BW, BL, BG, WL, ST nd SL in the Potchefstroom (8.17%) nd vitmin trce element premix (0.15%). Feed koekoek chickens. The lrgest difference ws oserved nd wter were offered d liitum. Routine mngement for BW in the Potchefstroom koekoek chickens while the procedures were strictly dhered to, prticulrly those lowest difference ws oserved for WL, lso in the relted to helth cre nd welfre issues. Potchefstroom koekoek chicken. 1
Agric. J., 7 (3): 0-5, 01 Tle 1: Effect of sex on ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of Potchefstroom koekoek, Vend nd Nked neck chickens Mle Femle Chicken -----------(Men±SE)------------- Difference (%) Nked neck.18±0.00 1.61±0.04 6.15 45.00±0.030 38.90±0.34 13.56 41.00±0.003 35.30±0.36 13.90 1.50±0.10 17.0±0.18 0.00 5.50±0.10 4.00±0.003 7.7 SL (cm) 3.50±0.00 5.70±0.4 0.9 Vend.06±0.060 1.68±0.06 18.58 45.50±0.00 38.40±0.34 15.60 4.50±1.00 35.0±0.43 17.18 1.00±0.003 18.00±0.58 14.9 4.75±0.100 4.05±0.11 14.74 SL (cm) 30.00±0.410 5.60±0.37 14.67 Potchefstroom koekoek.51±0.070 1.70±0.08 3.35 43.33±1.10 39.80±0.85 8.15 46.67±.480 36.00±0.83.86 19.67±0.30 18.90±0.4 3.90 5.50±0.40 4.0±0.1 3.64 SL (cm) 9.33±0.700 5.60±0.37 1.73 Tle : Effect of reed on ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of Potchefstroom koekoek, Vend nd Nked neck chickens Nked neck Vend Potchefstroom koekoek Mesurements -------------------------Men±SE--------------------------------- 1.70±0.09 1.74±0.10 1.88±0.09 39.9±1.01 c 36.9±1.01 40.6±0.97 36.5±1.9 36.4±1.30 38.46±1.5 c 17.9±0.49 18.50±0.49 19.08±0.47 4.5±0.18 4.17±0.18 4.50±0.17 SL (cm) 6.83±0.68 6.33±0.69 6.46±0.66 -c Mens denoted y different superscripts long the sme row differ (p<0.05); SE = Stndrd Error; BW = Body Weight; BL = Body Length; BG = Body Girth; WL = Wing Length; ST = Shnk Thickness; SL = Shnk Length Results of the effect of reed on the ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of the three indigenous chickens re shown in Tle. Body weight, BL, BG, WL nd ST were significntly (p<0.05) influenced y the reed of the chicken while SL ws not (p>0.05). Potchefstroom koekoek chickens were oserved to hve etter (p<0.05) ody weight, ody length, ody girth, wing length nd shnk thickness compred to the Nked neck nd Vend chickens. Nked neck chickens were not (p>0.05) from Vend chickens in terms of ody weight, ody girth nd shnk thickness ut differed (p<0.05) from the Vend chickens in terms of ody length nd wing length. The correltions etween ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of Nked neck, Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek chickens re shown in Tle 3-5. Body weight ws positively correlted (p<0.01) with liner ody mesurements in the Nked neck chickens (Tle 3). Similr correltions were lso oserved for most of the trits in Vend chickens (Tle 4). However, no significnt (p>0.05) correltions were oserved etween WL nd BL, WL nd BG nd SL nd WL in Vend chickens. In the Tle 3: Correltions etween ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of Nked neck chicken Prmeters BW BL BG WL ST SL BW 1.00 BL 0.8** 1.00 BG 0.86** 0.90** 1.00 WL 0.83** 0.84** 0.80** 1.00 ST 0.87** 0.86** 0.84** 0.9** 1.00 SL 0.9** 0.88** 0.87** 0.86** 0.93** 1.00 Length; ST = Shnk Thickness; SL = Shnk Length; **(p<0.01) Tle 4: Correltions etween ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of Vend chickens Prmeters BW BL BG WL ST SL BW 1.00 BL 0.71** 1.00 BG 0.76** 0.96** 1.00 WL 0.66** 0.48 0.43 1.00 ST 0.80** 0.61** 0.63** 0.71** 1.00 SL 0.59* 0.86** 0.87** 0.0 0.57* 1.00 Length; ST = Shnk Thickness; SL = Shnk Length; *(p<0.05); **(p<0.01) Tle 5: Correltions etween ody weight nd liner ody mesurements of Potchefstroom koekoek chickens Prmeters BW BL BG WL ST SL BW 1.00 BL 0.74** 1.00 BG 0.77** 0.51* 1.00 WL 0.37 0.08 0.6 1.00 ST 0.80** 0.56* 0.8** 0.9 1.00 SL 0.67** 0.5* 0.80** 0.37 0.77** 1.00 Length; ST = Shnk Thickness; SL = Shnk Length; *(p<0.05); **(p<0.05) Potchefstroom koekoek, positive nd significnt (p<0.05; 0.01) correltions were oserved for most of the trits (Tle 5). However, the correltions etween WL nd BW; WL nd BL; WL nd BG; ST nd WL nd SL nd WL were not significnt (p>0.05) in Potchefstroom koekoek chickens. The highest correltions were etween BW nd SL (Nked neck; r = 0.9), ST (Vend; r = 0.80) nd ST (Potchefstroom koekoek; r = 0.80). Predictive equtions relting ody weight of the South Africn indigenous chickens to liner ody mesurements re shown in Tle 6. Body weight nd liner ody mesurements hd significnt (p<0.05; 0.01) ssocitions. The vlue of the coefficient of determintion (R ) rnged from 0.14-0.84. Mle chickens of the three reeds were etter thn their femle counterprts in ll the trits studied. This is cler instnce of sexul dimorphism with its ttendnt effect on ody weight nd liner ody mesurements. Generlly, mles were igger thn the femles. This is not too surprising s ody weight ccounted for the lrgest dimorphism in ll the three reeds. This possily is n dptive feture used in dominting their environment. Resons hve een dduced for sex dimorphism in
Agric. J., 7 (3): 0-5, 01 Tle 6: Predictive equtions relting ody weight to liner ody mesurements of nked neck, Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek chickens Prmeters Predictive eqution (BW) SE R LS Nked neck BL = -1.4110+0.0779BL 0.017 0.68 ** BG = -1.4010+0.0855BG 0.016 0.74 ** WL = -0.368+0.1151WL 0.05 0.69 ** ST = 0.50+0.3471ST 0.061 0.76 ** SL = -0.519+0.085SL 0.011 0.84 ** Vend BL = 0.1951+0.0419BL 0.013 0.50 ** BG = -0.3508+0.0575BG 0.016 0.58 ** WL = 0.33+0.0768WL 0.08 0.44 * ST = -0.1381+0.4515ST 0.107 0.64 ** SL = -0.1108+0.0704SL 0.030 0.35 * Potchefstroom koekoek BL = -1.990+0.0938BL 0.06 0.55 ** BG = -0.1557+0.059BG 0.013 0.60 ** WL = -1.4050+0.17WL 0.013 0.14 * ST = -0.004+0.461ST 0.106 0.64 ** SL = -1.5710+0.1304SL 0.044 0.44 * Length; ST = Shnk Thickness; SL = Shnk Length; r = Coefficient of determintion; *(p<0.05); **(p<0.05); SE = Stndrd Error; LS = Level of Significnce poultry irds. Owens nd Hrtley (1997) were of the opinion tht sexul dimorphism in size is ssocited with high levels of socil polygmy/the sort of intrsexul competition descried y trditionl clssifictions of socil mting systems. Bez et l. (001) oserved tht sexul dimorphism is ttriutle to the usul etween sex differentil hormonl ction which invrily leds to differentil growth rtes. Another possile explntion for the ppernce of extreme sex-relted differences is the strong femle selection for high qulity mles or competition mong mles for limited ccess to femles which leds to fixtion of lrger ody size nd other secondry sexul chrcters in mles (McCrcken et l., 000). According to Remes nd Szekeley (010), difference in sizes of mles nd femles is key evolutionry feture tht is relted to ecology, ehviour nd life histories of orgnisms. Such dimorphism hs een reported in locl chickens in some Africn countries (Ngoupyou, 1990; Fyeye et l., 006; Yousso et l., 010; Ijiy et l., 010) in indigenous pigeons (Hssn nd Admu, 1997) in the Muscovy duck (Mignon-Grsleu et l., 1998; Rji et l., 009; Ogh, 011; Ykuu, 011) nd in turkey (Ogh, 011). Differences were lso oserved in the prmeters evluted when comprison of the three indigenous reeds ws crried out. Potchefstroom koekoek chickens were etter thn the Nked neck nd Vend chickens in ll the prmeters except shnk length The ody weights of the South Africn indigenous reeds (1.70, 1.74 nd 1.88 kg for Nked neck, Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek, respectively) were oserved to e lrger thn those reported for other indigenous irds in Nigeri (Momoh nd Kershim, 008; Ykuu nd Slko, 009), in Senegl (Gueye et l., 1998) in Cmeroun nd in Benin repulic (Yousso et l., 010). These re however, close to the 1.76 kg reported for Nigerin indigenous chickens y Ijiy et l. (010) nd generlly lower thn the vlues reported for indigenous chickens in Ugnd (Kyrisiim et l., 004). The etter performnce of the Potchefstroom koekoek might not e surprising s it hs een reported to lso hve etter egg lying ility compred to the Nked neck nd Vend chickens (Groelr et l., 010). The closeness of some of the ody weights of the Africn indigenous chickens suggests the possiility of common ncestry. This my require further studies especilly of the moleculr nture with the im of nlysing the genetic diversity of the reeds. Correltions etween BW nd liner ody mesurements were ll significnt nd positive. This mens tht BW nd liner ody trits could e selected for improvement t the sme time in the chickens since n increse in BW is expected to led to corresponding increse in the liner ody trits. The est correltion coefficients were oserved for the Nked neck chicken. The impliction is tht more improvement will e expected for the trits in the Nked neck chicken thn in the Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek chickens. Similr significnt correltions etween BW nd liner ody mesurements hve een reported y Gueye et l. (1998) in indigenous Seneglese chickens, Ogh et l. (009), Rji et l. (009) nd Ogh (011) in indigenous Muscovy ducks in Nigeri nd Ogh (011) in indigenous Nigerin turkeys. The predictive equtions showed tht there were significnt reltionships etween BW nd liner ody mesurements. The R vlues rnged from low to high mening tht with the exception of WL nd SL (Vend) nd WL nd SL (Potchefstroom koekoek), the equtions could e used to predict BW efficiently nd ccurtely. High R vlues for ny trit with BW mens tht the trit tends to increse s BW increses. According to Ozoje nd Mgere (00), since the finl ody weight of n niml is reflection of its component prts, predictive equtions provide redily ville tool in ody weight estimtion. This is prticulrly useful in rurl res or in res where scles re not ville. The equtions show tht BW is highly dependent on growth in the other component prts of the indigenous chickens. The R vlues otined for the Nked neck chickens in this study were higher thn those reported y Gueye et l. (1998) nd Momoh nd Kershim (008) for Seneglese indigenous chickens nd Nigerin locl chickens 3
Agric. J., 7 (3): 0-5, 01 respectively. Body weight ws est predicted in the Gueye, E.F., A. Ndiye nd R.D.S. Brnckert, 1998. Nked neck chickens compred to the Vend nd Potchefstroom koekoek chickens, respectively. CONCLUSION The following conclusions could e drwn sed on the results of this study: C There is high degree of sexul dimorphism in the three South Africn chicken reeds evluted C The Potchefstroom koekoek chicken hd etter performnce in terms of the prmeters studied with the exception of shnk length C There is high degree of correltions etween BW nd the liner ody mesurements of the three reeds; the est correltions were oserved for the Nked neck chickens C Body weight could e predicted in the three indigenous reeds with high degree of ccurcy nd efficiency, hence the equtions could e used to estimte BW in the three reeds in situtions where weighing scle is not redily ville REFERENCES Adetyo, A.S. nd S.E. Bfunso, 001. Comprison of the performnce of Nigerin indigenous chickens from three gro-ecologicl zones. Livest. Res. Rurl Dev., Vol. 13. Bez, E., J. Willims, D. Guemene nd M.J. Duclos, 001. Sexul dimorphism for growth in Muscovy duck nd chnges in Insulin-Like Growth Fctor I (IGF- I), Growth Hormone (GH) nd triiodothyronine (T3) plsm levels. Reprod. Dev., 41: 173-179. Byrug, D.K., 007. Structure nd Importnce of the commercil nd villge sed poultry industry in Ugnd. Animl Production Service (AGAP) of Food nd Agriculture Orgnistion, Itly. Demeke, S., 004. Egg production performnce of locl nd White Leghorn hens under intensive nd rurl household conditions in Ethiopi. Livestock Res. Rurl Dev., Vol. 16. Fyeye, T.R., K.L. Ayorinde, V. Ojo nd O.M. Adesin, 006. Frequency nd influence of some mjor genes on ody weight nd ody size prmeters of Nigerin locl chickens. Res. Rurl Dev., Vol. 18. Groelr, J.A.N., B. Sutherlnd nd N.M. Mollkgotl, 010. Egg production potentils of certin indigenous chicken reeds from South Afric. Anim. Genet. Resour., 46: 5-3. Gueye, E.F., 1998. Villge egg nd chicken met production in Afric. World Poult. Sci. J., 54: 73-85. 4 Prediction of ody weight on the sis of ody mesurements in mture indigenous chickens in Senegl. Livest. Res. Rurl Dev., Vol. 10. Hssn, W.A. nd U.A. Admu, 1997. Pigeon genetic resources in semi-rid zone of Nigeri: Initil results from chrcteriztion studies. Proceedings of the INFPD Workshop nd Generl Meeting, Decemer 9-13, 1997, M'Bour, Senegl -. Ijiy, A.T., S.S.A. Egen nd R. Kolwole, 010. Frequency nd effect of spur gene on metric prmeters in the Nigerin locl chicken in Niger stte. Niger. J. Tech. Res., 5: 4-33. Instt, 006. Instt+for windows version 3.036. Sttisticl services centre, University of Redings. UK. Kolwole, R., 010. Frequency nd effect of spur gene on metric prmeters in the Nigerin locl chicken in southern guine svnnh re of Nigeri. B.Tech. Thesis, Federl University of Technology Minn, Niger stte. Kyrisiim, C.C., D.R. Kugonz nd C.K. Twesigye, 004. The potentil role of Ugnd indigenous chicken in poverty llevition. Ugnd J., 50: 85-90. McCrcken, K.G., D.C. Pton nd A.D. Afton, 000. Sexul size dimorphism of the musk duck. Wilson Bull., 11: 457-466. Mignon-Grsleu, S., C. Beumont, P. Jen-Pul nd H. de Rochmeu, 1998. Estimtion of genetic prmeters of sexul dimorphism of ody weight in lel chickens nd Muscovy ducks. Genet. Sci. Evol., 30: 481-491. Momoh, O.M. nd D.E. Kershim, 008. Liner ody mesurements s predictors of ody weight in nigerin locl chickens. Asset Ser. A., 8: 06-1. Nidoo, M., 003. Indigenous poultry production systems in northern KwZulu-Ntl, South Afric. Proceedings of the 1st Ntionl Workshop on Indigenous Poultry Development, Octoer 9-30, 003 Pietermritzerg, South Afric, pp: 66-73. Ngoupyou, J.D.N., 1990. Country report on smll-holder rurl poultry production in Cmeroon. Smllholder Rurl Poult. Prod., : 39-48. Ogh, D.M., 011. Assessing size nd conformtion of the ody of Nigerin indigenous turkey. Slovk J. Anim. Sci., 44: 1-7. Ogh, D.M., 011. Shred vriility of ody shpe chrcters in muscovy duck. Biotechnol. Anim. Husndry, 7: 189-196. Ogh, D.M., I.S. Mus, A. Ykuu, M.O. Momoh nd N.I. Dim, 009. Vrition in morphologicl trits of geogrphicl seprted popultion of indigenous muscovy duck (Cirin moscht) in Nigeri. Proceedings of 5th Interntionl Poultry Conference, Mrch 10-13, 009, T, Egypt, pp: 46-5.
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