GENETIC VARIABILITIES OF BODY TEMPERATURE AND RESTING BEHAVIOUR IN THREE STRAINS OF EGG-TYPE CHICKEN

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the body temperature and resting behaviours of three strains of egg-type pullet chickens (exotic [ISA brown], improved native [Alpha] and Native chickens). A total of 90 egg-type pullets aged 12 months and their day old, non-inbred progeny pullets numbering 90 were used for the study.  Both the parents and their progeny were housed at 10 per pen and 3 replicates per genotype and their progeny. The parents were fed and watered ad-libitum between 52 – 63 weeks period of the experiment. The progeny of each genotype were kept for 0 – 12 weeks, during which time, chicks were fed and watered ad-libitum as in the parents and data were collected.  During this period, body temperature and resting behaviour were collected with respect to the birds and their progeny. The result showed no significant (P > 0.05) genotype effects in the body temperature of both the parents and their progeny.  This implies that neither progeny nor generation had effect on body temperature. The Alpha strain exhibited more resting behaviour than did the exotic and the pure native types. Majority of the birds rested in the afternoon at 2.00 pm.  This could be attributed to the fact that at 2.00 pm the weather is hot and birds search for a quiet and cool place to reduce thermal stress.