Heterosis and combining ability for body weight and feed conversion in four genetic groups of native chicken

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Combining ability analysis for body weight and feed conversion in four genetic groups of native chicken were carried out in full diallel cross. Heterosis effects were observed for body weight from 0-16 weeks of age. The highest heterosis was in the BxC cross followed by that in crosses CxB, CxA, and AxB. Two out of 12 crosses exhibited heterosis for body weight at 16 weeks of age. The lowest heterosis was exhibit in the cross AC. In the period of age 8-12 weeks, three out of 12 crosses (BxC, CxB, and DxC) showed negative heterosis for feed conversion but in the period of age 12-16 weeks, there were no crosses showed a positive heterosis. The variances due to general and specific combining abilities have significant effect on 8 and 16 week body weight. Variance due to general combining ability was significant for body weight at 8 and 16 weeks of age indicated that body weight at the said ages are influenced by additive genetic variance. At 8 weeks of age, CxD cross was significantly lower than AxD, BxC, BxD crosses. While on 16 week body weight, BC cross was significantly different from the AxD and CxD crosses. No significant effect of general combining ability for feed conversion was observed but the specific combining ability effect was significant in
the period of age 8-12 and 12-16 weeks.