Growth of Merawang Chicken with Arab Chicken Crossing and Its Reciprocal at 1 to 10 Weeks of Age

Abstract

The diversity of local chickens in Indonesia is considerably high and very potential to be developed. Arab chickens are well known for their high egg production. Meanwhile, merawang chickens produce lower egg than arab chickens. Concerning their production capacity, arab and merawang chickens are crossed to evaluate the genetic potency through the heterocyst effect. A total of 147 MA DOC and 63 AM chickens were used and observed for bodyweight, growth rate, feed intake, and feed conversion in growth phase from 1 to 10 weeks of age. This experiment was randomized complete block designed with hatching periods as block. The average of bodyweight of MA chickens was higher than AM chickens. Meanwhile, the growth of MA and MA males was the same. At 10 weeks the average of bodyweight of MA and AM males were 846.5 g and 818.2 g, respectively, and not significant different (P>0.05). Meanwhile, at weeks 6-8 there was significant different (P<0.05) on bodyweight of MA and AM females but did not differ at 10 weeks. The average of bodyweight of MA and AM females at 10 week were 748.50 g and 733.73 g, accordingly. Meanwhile, bodyweight of AM and MA females differed only in week 6 to 8. Feed intake and conversion was the same between these two chickens. Growth rate of MA and AM chickens was the same. MA chickens were much efficient in converting feed than AM chickens. However, it was not significantly different as well as feed intake. In general, growth rate of MA and AM chickens was the same.