Effect of genotype on egg production traits of main and reciprocal crossbred Isa Brown and local chickens

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the egg production traits of 39 main and reciprocal crossbred Isa Brown and frizzle feathered, naked neck and normal feathered local chickens. Egg production data were collected on 1739 eggs for 70 days and subjected to two way analysis of variance in randomized complete block design. Results indicated that Isa Brown x frizzle feathered main cross (IBxF)recorded highest significant (P<0.05) short-term egg number to 70 days (41.21±1.59 eggs) while normal x Isa Brown reciprocal cross (NxIB) recorded highest significant (P<0.05) body weight at first egg (1333.77±18.93 g) and weight of first egg (39.12±0.31 g). Naked neck x Isa Brown reciprocal cross (NaxIB) had earliest significant (P<0.05) age at first egg (164.39±1.18 days). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in average egg weight among the genotypes. However, the average egg weigh (49.20 ±0.38) of Isa brown x normal fathered main cross (IBxN) was numerically heavier, followed by that of NaxIB, (44.02±0.30). Isa Brown x frizzle feathered main cross and naked neck x Isa Brown reciprocal cross exhibited better egg production traits. Egg production can be improved by main and reciprocal crossbreeding of Isa Brown with frizzle and naked neck chickens.