ABSTRACT

 A total of 270 day old broiler chicks comprising of 90 chicks each of Abor Acre, Ross and Marshal  Strains were used for the study. The study was carried out to determine the relationship between the I body weight and other morphometric measurements in the three broiler strains, to determine the rate , 1 , of growth and evaluate the effect of strain on growth trait from 2 to 8 weeks of age and predict body ,weight of the broiler using linear body measurement. Data were collected on body weight and body ,1j measurements to include breast length (BRL), thigh width (TW), shank length (SL), keel length {(KL), wing length and drumstick length (DL). The data collected were subjected to ANOVA in } Completely Randomized Design. Body weight of broiler ranged between 273.28 ± 6.28 to 1599.17 ± I 23.36 in Abor Acre; 338.06 ± 6.28 to 1664.06 ± 23.36 in Ross and 398.67 ± 6.28 to 15557.33 ± -~ 23.36 in Marshal strains. The result showed similarities in body weight at week 4 and week 8 while j significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in body weight at week 2 and 6 Marshal strain was _1 significantly (p>0.05) superior at week 6, whereas Abor Acre was heavier at week 4. The \ morphometric traits ranged from 5.41 ± 0.06 to 5.54 ± 0.06 in Abor Acre 5.05 ± 0.05 to 5.58 ± 0.05 {i Ross and 5.61 ± 0.06 to 5.58 ± 0.05. in Marshall for breast length; TW ranged 4.99 to 0.04 to ~ 12.98 + 0.12 in Abor Acre 5.34 + 0.04 to 12.94 + 0.12 in Ross and 6.09 + 0.04 to 12.88 + 0.12 in [Marshal. SL ranged 4.13 ± 0.03 to 7.07 ± 0.08 in Ross and 4.32 ± 0.03 to 7.03 ± 0.08 in Marshal, BL j ranged 19.99 ± 0.10 to 33.57 ± 0.19 in Abor Acre, 21.01 ± 0.10 to 33.57 ± 0.19 in Ross and 21.25 ± j 0.10 to 33.51 ± 0.19 in Marshal. KL 6.84 ± 0.05 to 14.41 ± 0.10 in Abor Acre, 6.80 ± 0.05 to 14.45 ± [0.10 in Ross and 7.41 ± 0.05 to 14.41 ± 0.10 in Marshall; Drumstick ranged 11.64 ± 0.06 to 19.48 ± \0.19 in Ross and 12.02 ± 0.06 to 19.61 ± 0.19 in Marshall.