ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the inter relationship and repeatability estimate of body traits of three broiler strains. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) day old chicks which comprises of fifty (50) Hubbard, (50) Marshal, and (50) Ross broiler strains, were used in carrying out the research. In this study, each strain was replicated four (4) times with 1 5 birds per replicate. Data on each strains was co11ected every two (2) weeks intervals that is 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. All the birds were given the necessary feed, medications and vaccines were administered at as when due. At the end week of experiment, three birds per replicate were randomly selected for carcass yield measurement. The parameters of interests were body weight, body length, wing length, shank length, drum stick length, keel length, thigh, back, and breast weight. The result showed that there was positive phenotypic correlation between linear type traits and body traits of the three strains. The result showed that a significant positive correlation (p<O.Ol) between live weight, DE feathered weight and drum stick for 1-lubbard strain while the marshal showed a significant positive correlation (p<O.Ol) between live weight, defeathered weight and dressed weight but the live weight showed a negative correlation (p<O.OS) with the shank. The Ross showed that the live weight had a significant positive correlation with defeathered weight and dressed weight. It can be concluded that the carcass traits are good determinants of live weight and anyone of the traits could be used to predict its value and growth rate.