Comparative Growth Performance and Feed Efficiency of Nigerian Indigenous Chickens and Their Crosses with Arbor Acre Broiler Breeders Hens
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1018-5710Keywords:
Nigerian Indigenous Chicken, Arbor Acre, Crossbreeding, Growth Performance, Feed Conversion RatioAbstract
This study compared the growth performance and feed efficiency of Nigerian indigenous chickens (NIC) and their crosses with Arbor Acre broiler breeders (NIC×AA) from hatch to 12 weeks of age. Sixty chicks per genetic group were reared under a deep litter system in a completely randomized design with three replicates of 20 birds each. Body weight, feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly and analyzed using independent samples t-tests and a repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). NIC×AA chicks were significantly heavier than NIC at hatch, and remained significantly heavier throughout the rearing period, reaching 1,923.11 g at week 12 compared with 726.46 g for NIC (P < 0.001). Total weight gain and average daily gain were significantly higher in NIC×AA than pure NIC birds over the entire period (P < 0.001). Feed conversion ratio deteriorated markedly in NIC across the production phases (2.37 to 5.96), whereas NIC×AA maintained a comparatively stable and superior FCR (1.67 to 2.54), yielding an overall FCR of 2.24 versus 4.21 for NIC (P < 0.001). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant genetic group × week interaction (P < 0.001; partial η² = 0.993), confirming that the two genotypes diverged progressively in growth rate rather than differing only in absolute body weight. These findings indicate that crossbreeding Nigerian indigenous chickens with Arbor Acre broiler breeders substantially improves growth performance and feed efficiency.
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