ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on genetic evaluation of the Nigerian Forest (Yoruba)ecotype chicken

in three local government of Ekiti State, Nigeria, based on some phenotypic traits and

performance traits. A total of Two Hundred (200) of Cocks and Hens, with more of Hens than

Cocks, of mature native, forest ecotype chickens were randomly sampled from the study area.

The study covered nine (9) settlements (Asin, Ootunja, lgbona, Ilumoba, Aisegba, Agbado, lfaki,

ldo and Aaye) within three local governments (lkole, Gbonyin and Ido-osi) in Ekiti state. The

study was conducted between September and November 2018. Parameters examined included

live body weight, eye colour, skin colour, feather colour, feather types, plumage colour, shank

colour, beak colour, comb color, comb type, ear-lobe colour, wattle colour, keel bone structure, ..

skeletal variance, presence of major genes, egg shell colour, egg mean weight, number of eggs per clutch, number of chicks per clutch, number of unhatched eggs and post hatch mortality. Mean live body weight of males was significantly (p<0.05) heavier than females, In the Occurrence of Skin-colour and percentage by Sex of Chicken, the Creamish skin (60%) were highest of the total population of both Cocks and hens, In the Occurrence of Feather colours and percentage by Sex of chicken, the Black feather mixed with other colors (42%) occurred highest. Most of the chicken in the population surveyed have mixed feather morphology with a percentage of (42.5%), the penciled feathered were more of Cocks with a percentage of 9%, laced feathered were more of Hens with percentage of (24.5%).Data collected on body weight and twenty seven traits from 200 chickens were analysed using SAS statistical package.The result revealed that most of the parameters revealed distinctive variations.

 TABLE OF CONTENT

Table of contents ........................................................................................................................

List of Tables ...........................................................................................................................

List of Figures ..............................................................................................

List of plates ...................................................................................................

List of Appendices ..........................................................................................

Chapter one ...... ..........................................................................................................................

1.0 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................

1.1 Justification ................................................................................................................................

1.2 Statement of research problem ..................................................................................................

1.3 Objectives of study....................................................................................................................

1.4 Hypothesis of study .......................................................................................

Chapter Two...................................................................................................

2.0 Literature review..........................................................................................

2.1 Origin of local chicken................................................................................

2.2 Potential of local chicken .................................................................................

2.3 Economic importance of local chicken ...............................................................

2.4 Productivity of local chicken ........................................................................... 12

2.4.1 Mortality under the scavenging system of producing birds ...................................... 12

2.4.2 Egg production ......................................................................................... 13

2.4.3 Clutch number, clutch size and hatchability ....................................................... 13

2.4.4 Egg weight. ............................................................................................ 14

2.5 Major genes .............................................................................................. 14

2.6 Mutant genes in chicken ................................................................................. 15

2.6.1 The naked neck gene and its effect in the performance of chickens ........................... 16

2.6.2 The frizzled gene ...................................................................................... 21

2.6.3 The effect of the frizzled gene on egg production ................................................ 21

2.6.4 The effect of frizzled gene on sexual maturity, growth traits and mortality .................. .23

2.6.5 Frequency of frizzled and naked genotypes in the population .................................. 23

2.6.6 Silky gene .......................................

2.6. 1 Crest feathered gene ....................................

2.6.8 Polydactyl......................................

2.6.9 Ptilopody ................................................................................................ 27

2.6.10 Dwarfism ............................................................................................. 28

Chapter three............................................................................................ ....29

3.0 Methodology ............................................................................................. 29

3.1 Study location ............................................................................................ 29

3.2 Management of animals.............................................................................. ...30

3.3 Sampling and sampling procedure ................................................................... .31

3.4 Data collection ........................................................................................... 31

3.5 Data analysis ............................................................................................ 32

Chapter four ............................................................................................... 34

4.0 Results ..................... .-............................................................................. 34

Chapter five............... .............................................................................. ....56

5.1 Discussion .............................................................................................. 56

Chapter six................................................................................................. 68

6.1 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 68

6.2 Recommendation ....................................................................................... 68

References ................................................................................................... 69

Appendices ................................................................................................... 85