Egg Quality Traits of Indigenous and Exotic Chickens As Influenced By Specific Genes

Abstract

This experiment was conducted using five chicken genotypes, comprising three Nigerian local (The normal feather, frizzle feather and the naked neck) and two exotic (Dominant black and Dominant blue) genotype. A total of one hundred eggs comprising of twenty eggs from each genotype were collected to evaluate the egg quality traits. Egg weight (EW), Egg length (EL), Egg width (EWD), Shell colour (SC) ,Albuminweight(AW),Yolkweight(YW),Yolkthickness(YT),yolklength(YL),yolkcolour(YC),shellweight(SW),shellthickness(ST), Moisture (M), Crude Protein (CP), Fat (F) and Ash (A) were evaluated and were significantly (P<0.01) affected by genotype. It therefore indicates that genetic differences in egg quality traits exist among the five genotypes studied. Egg quality trait in term of crude protein highly favoured Naked neck compared to others. From this result, this paper therefore underscores the potentials of the Naked neck chicken in terms of egg quality just like their exotic counterpart in ensuring food security, improved income and sustainable life.

Keywords: Normal feather, Frizzle feather, Naked neck, Dominant black/blue, genotype