Browsing by Author "Maichiki, W.P."

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    Effects of Ecotype and Batch of Hatch on Biometric Characteristics of Tiv and Fulani Local Chickens of Nigeria
    (Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State Univerisity Keffi, 2020-05-03) Gambo, D.; Sabuwa, M.A.; Guluwa, L.Y.; Maichiki, W.P.; Muhammad, Kabir Baba; Mundi, H.L.
    Study was undertaken to determine variations in biometric parameters within and between the Tiv and Fulani local chickens. The study was carried out at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State. A total of 110 birds comprising of 10 hens and 1 cock from each of five randomly selected locations for the Tiv and the Fulani chicken ecotypes were purchased and used as the base population. A mating ratio of 1 cock to 10 hens was applied to generate the experimental birds. After successful four batches of hatching, 538 chicks comprising 354 and 184 chicks for the Tiv and the Fulani ecotypes respectively were generated. The birds were raised according to their ecotype and location. Data were collected on biometric traits such as such as body length, shank length, wing lengths and breast girth. The data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis using the SPSS statistical package. The results indicate that mean linear body measurements increased with advancing age until maturity in both ecotypes. The coefficients of variation (CV) values were generally higher in the Tiv ecotype compared to the Fulani ecotype. In the Tiv ecotype, the highest CV value (42.21 %) was noted in the breast girth at 8 week of age. However in the Fulani ecotype, wing length at week 1 showed the highest CV value (14.23 %). The Fulani ecotype had significantly (P<0.05) higher body length, wing length, shank length and breast girth compared to the Tiv ecotype at all ages. Batch of hatch had significant effect on body linear measures in both ecotypes. In the Tiv ecotype, birds in batch 1 had significantly (P<0.05) higher body linear parameters compared to other batches at weeks 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 except at at week 20 where batch 3 and 4 demonstrated significantly (P<0.05) higher wing length and breast girth. In the Fulani ecotype, batch 1 at weeks 1 and 4 had significantly (P<0.05) better breast girth than other batches. Batches 2, 3 and 4 at week 4 and batches 1 and 2 at week 8 had significantly (P<0.04) higher wing length compared to other batches. Batch 4 had significantly (P<0.05) higher body length (36.47±0.24 cm) and breast girth (4.92±0.02 cm) compared to other batches at week 12. From the findings of this study, it was concluded that, the genetic diversity within and between the Tiv and the Fulani chicken ecotypes observed in this study should be exploited through selection within each ecotype and subsequent crossing between birds from different batch of hatch/ecotype to take advantage of heterosis.
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    Morphological characterization within and between populations of two Nigerian chicken ecotypes
    (Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State Univerisity Keffi, 2020-06-06) Gambo, D.; Sabuwa, M.A.; Guluwa, L.Y.; Maichiki, W.P.; Muhammad, Kabir Baba; Agbu, C.S.
    The study was undertaken to investigate morphological variations within and between selected populations of the Nigerian Tiv and Fulani chicken ecotypes. The experiment was carried out in ten randomly selected localities across three states comprising Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau. The locations (1-5) for the Tiv ecotype were Uikpan, Daudu, Kadarko, Yelwata and Cohor while that of Fulani ecotype were Lafia, Akurba, Adogi, Asakio and Namu. One hundred (100) birds per location and a total of one thousand birds (1000) birds (500 each for Tiv and Fulani ecotypes) were used for the experiment. Data were collected on morphological characteristics such as plumage colour, shank colour, beak colour, comb colour, comb type, eye colour, skin colour, eye colour and wattle colour by physical visualization. Data collected were analyzed using simple statistical tools such as percentages. The results indicate that plumage and shank colour were predominantly brown and yellow respectively in both ecotypes. Black beak was predominant in the Tiv ecotype while brown beak dominated in the Fulani ecotype. Single comb type overwhelmingly dominated in both ecotypes across locations. The comb colour was 100 percent red in both ecotypes across locations. Yellow eye colour dominated in all locations and in both ecotypes. Similarly, red wattle colour followed by dark red dominated in both ecotypes across locations. From the findings of this research, it was concluded that the Tiv and Fulani local chicken ecotypes should each be subjected to selection for uniformity in morphological traits as a necessary step to breed definition