GROWTH PATTERN OF ABOR ACRE STRAIN OF BROILERS IN

OWERRI IMO STATE

{42 PAGES}

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
 ABSTRACT

A total of 60 Arbor Acre (AA) strain of broiler chicken were used for this study in the Teaching
and Research Farm of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, FUTO. Growth
pattern of the broiler (AA) during an 8th week growing period was observed weekly, using
growth parameters. The mathematical models (Simple Linear and Allometric) and ANOVA from
SPSS Package was used for the analysis with the view to determine growth rate of the body
components and its relationship with one another. Weekly mean body parameters progressed
significantly (<0.05>) with age from week 1 to week 8 with values ranging BW; 101.92 ± 1.6 –
2260.17 ± 35.83, BL; 14.58 ± .09 – 37.5 ± 0.19, KL; .30 ± 0.005 – 21.62 ± 11, WL; 5.48 ± .06 –
26.69 ± 0.07, SL; .52 ±.007 – 22.45 ± 0.12, DS; 5.90 ± .06 – 20.69 ± .09,, BR; 5.68 ± 0.12 -20.32
± .09 and CC; 12.77 ± 0.12 – 37.16 ± 0.20 Respectively. Higher Coefficient of determination
ranging between 61.3% in WL to 93.2% in CC were observed with a highly significant (P
<0.01>) F-Value for Linear regression of body parameters with age. Similarly, higher coefficient
of determination ranging between 65.5% in KL to 96.6% in CC. With allometric equation
relating body weight and linear body parameters, with coefficient ranging between 0.809 for KL
to 0.983 for CC. Chest Circumference (CC) with its outstanding R 2- Value for Linear regression
and allometric growth results could be adjudged as the best indices for body weight measurement
in this study and also selection on the basis of the CC will bring about better growth and
productivity in Arbor Acre Strain.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
CERTIFIATION
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
CHAPTER ONE
INRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
1.3 JUSTIFICATION
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 GROWTH AND ITS IMPLICATION ON POULTRY PRODUCTION
2.2 COMMERCIAL BROILER BREEDERS
2.3 ARBOR ACRE-ORIGIN
2.4 GROWTH PATTERN/MODEL IN POULTRY
2.5 LINEAR MODELS
2.5 ALLOMETRIC GROWTH IN ANIMALS
2.6 GROWTH PERFORMANCE TRAITS
CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 SITE OF STUDY
3.2 EXPERIMENTAL BIRDS AND MANAGEMENT
3.2.1 VACCINATION SCHEDULE FOR BROILER
3.2.2 NUTRITION
3.3 DATA COLLECTION
3.4 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 WEEKLY MEAN OF BODY WEIGHT AND BODY LINEAR MEASUREMENT OF
ARBOR ACRE STRAIN OF BROILER
4.2 LINEAR REGRESSION OF AGE ON BODY PARAMETERS IN ARBOR ACRE
BROILER
4.3 LOG-LINEAR AND ALLOMETRIC GROWTH EQUATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
COEFFICIENTS FOR GROWTH PARAMETERS FOR 8-WEEK PERIOD IN ARBOR
ACRE STRAIN OF BROILER
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 CONCLUSION
5.2 RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION
 CHAPTER ONE

INRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Growth can be defined as the changes throughout life accompanied by the

utilization of materials, and leading to an increase in volume, size, or shape of an
organism (Aggrey, 2002; Aggrey et al., 2003). Animal growth involves increase in
size and change in functional capabilities of various tissues and organs of the
animal that occurs from conception through maturity. There are several factors
which affect the growth performance of broiler chickens, and these include Strain
or breed, Sex, Nutrition, Housing and Stocking rate (Akbas and Oguz, 2010). Poor
nutrition can affect the growth pattern of broiler chicken. The growth of an animal
follows a pattern which indicates their simple life cycle, their characteristics, and
performance (Aggrey, 2012). Body growth in broiler is represented by the sum of
protein fat and water. In broilers, the deposition rates and the ratio of these
components characterize the physiological age of the birds and their maturity
stage, which are influenced by genotype and environment (Vincek et al., 2011).
During the last few decades, genetic improvement has developed broilers with high
daily weight gain and high feed intake capacity (Sakomura, 2009).

However, the functional relationship of live body weight, body conformation and
yield to production traits are important in broiler production, since this information
would reflect on the feed efficiency and performance of broilers (Ogundu, et al
2009). Medes, (2008) opine that defining growth with respect to each feature of the
animal will not provide sufficient information on its growth performance in
general. Alkan et al., (2011) therefore reported the necessity to determine the
growth performance of these features with respect to the whole body, relative to
each other as well as the growth of left side organs relative to right side organs.
Data for growth performance of different body parts of an animal with respect to
each other and the whole body could be achieved by the prediction of allometric
growth parameters.

The Nigeria poultry industry has over the years witnessed the introduction of
Arbor Acres broiler strains (Essien and Adeyemi, 2009). The realization of the full
growth potentials of this strain is largely expected to depend on the nutritional and
climatic variables subject to the genotypic traits which in turn set a ceiling on their
productive capacity. The implication is that the broiler producers should select
stocks which have the genetic potential for fast growth rate and attainment of
market weight early enough under the Nigeria climatic conditions. Within the last
one decade, there has been an intensified study on the genetic, physiological,
nutritional and growth performance of Arbor Acres Strain (Essien and Adeyemi,
2009). The chicken is the most exploited species of poultry, which is utilized for
lots of purposes such as food production, religion and cultural uses in the whole
world. As an asset, chicken can be changed into cash.

In addition, there is currently dearth of information on the growth pattern of Arbor

Acre Strain commonly found in commercial farms in tropical humid environment
of Imo state, south east Nigeria.

This study evaluates the performance of Arbor Acre Strain in the tropical humid
environment of Imo state, south east, Nigeria with the view of establishing some
baseline data on its pattern of growth in the tropics. Establishing the growth rate in
Arbor Acre Strain could be exploited and used in feeding programme to develop
the period of fastest growth and weight gain broiler chicken in the tropics.

1.2 Objectives of study

i. To determine the growth characteristics of Arbor Acre Strain.

ii. To establish allometric growth pattern at different ages.
iii. To determine the growth rates of the body and linear body components.

1.3 Justification

Live body weight at market age is known to be the most important traits in
determining profit from broiler enterprise (Mistra and Mohapatra, 2011). Poultry
breeders have tried to establish the relationships that exist between body weight
and body conformation traits as this information reflects on the growth
performance of broiler birds (Adenowo and Omoniyi, 2004; Kabir and Olufemi
2013; Kabir et al., 2010 a). Broiler production is an important sector of the poultry
industry, having challenges with inadequate protein supply and climate changes
which may negatively impair the productivity of poultry industry (Shini et al.,
2014). Chicken may respond differently to the increased protein level in the diet,
depending mainly on the protein quality and the amino acid profile thereof. With
low quality protein having inadequate and/or imbalanced dietary protein in this
case will have effect on performance in terms of growth.

The interaction of genetics with the environment in specific geographical locations

may affect broiler growth traits (Okere, 2015). Poultry growth is not only inherited
but it is also greatly affected by the environment (Babinazky et al., 2013).
Therefore, data on environmental rearing conditions and on their effects on poultry
production need to be generated to allow the development of common strategies to
face the adverse effects of the climate changes especially here in Imo state.
GET FULL MATERIAL

To get the complete materials from chapter One to Chapter Five, Pay N5000 to the following bank.

BANK DETAILS:

UNITED BANK OF AFRICA PLC - UBA

Account Name: Irokah Emmanuel

Account Number: 2084311379

OR

Call Emmanuel:

Phone Number: +2347065429999

Send Email:

porientre@gmail.com

emmairokah@gmail.com