THE EFFECT OF MATING TYPE ON FERTILITY, HATCHABILITY AND GROWTH RATE OF F1 CHICKS UNDER THE SAVANNA CONDITIONS OF NIGERIA

Three genetic groups (normal feathered (Nf), frizzle feathered (Ff) and naked-neck (Na)) of local chicken sires were each mated in a like x like and random arrangement to a confined population of females in the savanna region of Nigeria to determine the effect of assortative and random mating on fertility, hatchability and weight gain in native chickens. Eggs were collected and identified based on their mating arrangements, and then artificially incubated. Candling was done 7 days post-setting, and infertile eggs were discarded. The F 1 pedigreed chicks were raised on a farm mix compounded ration. Chick growth rates were evaluated on sex basis every four weeks to twenty weeks of age. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using the IBM SPSS version 20 software. Fertility and hatchability varied with the sire line and mating type. The F 1 progenies from the naked neck (Na) sires, both in the assortative and hybrid combinations, exhibited higher percentage levels of fertility and hatchability. At 20 weeks of age, both sexes of the F 1 pedigrees of Na sires recorded significantly higher (p<0.05) weights than the F 1 offsprings of the two contemporary sire groups. Consequently, the Na gene in hybrid combinations with other genes confers a greater potential for growth in the F 1 pedigrees to 20 weeks of age. Consequently, the use of the Na gene, either independently or in hybrid combinations, in breeding programmes is recommended for improving the reproductive capacity and meat yield of native chickens in Nigeria under savanna agro-ecology.