Abstract:
A study was carried out to develop cross breeding programmes for local chicken to evaluate the growth traits of FI
progenies. The crosses made were Naked-neck X Giriraja, Naked-neck X Hy-line white, Village chicken X Giriraja and
Village chicken X Hy-line white. Pure Cobb and Hy-line white lines were used for comparative analysis. The
parameters measured were body weight of day old chick, body length at birth, weekly weight gain, feed conversion
efficiency and body weight at 20 weeks age. Non-metric parameters measured were feather colour, ear lobe colour,
body shape and comb type. The data were analyzed with one way ANOVA and DMRT was used to compare the mean
values. The results of the study revealed that the weight of day-old chick (58.3±1.3 g), body length at birth (5.8±0.9
cm), weekly weight gain (55.1±1.9 g/week) and body weight at 20 weeks age (1.7±0.05) were significantly higher
(P<0.05) in FI progeny of Naked-neck X Giriraja and Cobb. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed for feed
conversion efficiency between F I progenies of all the crossings (0.59-0.61) except Cobb (0.65±0.1). The mature body
weight was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Cobb (2.5±0.01 kg). The colour and comb type of day-old chicks of FI
progenies were yellow and single, respective of the crossings. The ear lobes of F I progenies of village chicken and
naked-neck chicken were white and red, respectively. Body shape observed was triangular in village chicken crosses
while it was rectangular in naked-neck chicken. A diversity in feather colouring pattern was observed among different
individuals of the progenies. It was concluded that the F I progeny of N aked-neck X Giriraja showed higher values for
many of the metric traits measured in this study. For further confirmation the trial should be done for several
generations.
