TY  - JOUR
T1  - Heritabilities and Correlations Between Body Weights and Growth Curve Parameters of Indigenous Chicken Populations Reared Intensively in Kenya
AU - Ngeno, K. AU - Magothe, T.M. AU - Okeno, T.O. AU - Bebe, B.O. AU - Kahi, A.K. 
JO  - Research Journal of Poultry Sciences
VL  - 6
IS  - 3
SP  - 43
EP  - 52
PY  - 2013
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1993-5285
DO  - rjpscience.2013.43.52
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjpscience.2013.43.52
KW  - Growth curve parameters
KW  -Gompertz Model
KW  -indigenous chicken
KW  -heritability
KW  -Kenya
AB  - The objective of this study was to estimate heritabilities 
  and genetic and phenotypic correlations among and between Body Weights (BW) 
  to 20 weeks of age and growth curve parameters (asymptotic weight, A, scaling 
  parameter, b and maturity index, k of Indigenous Chicken (IC) populations in 
  Kenya. The growth parameters was estimated using the Gompertz Model and a sire 
  model was used to estimate (co) variance components for BW at specific ages 
  and growth curve parameters (A, b and k). The heritability estimates were low 
  for the BW at hatch (BW<SUB>0</SUB>, 0.170), moderate for BW in week 20 (BW<SUB>20</SUB>, 
  0.280) and high for the BW in week 8 (BW<SUB>8</SUB>, 0.560). The high heritability 
  estimate for BW<SUB>8</SUB> indicates that genetic variability for BW seems 
  to be high enough for selection. Thus, the use of BW<SUB>8</SUB> as selection 
  criterion would seem more efficient than the use of bodyweight at other ages. 
  The heritability estimates were low for b (0.050) and moderate for A (0.260) 
  and k (0.290). The moderate heritability estimates for A and k indicate the 
  growth curve parameters could be applied to change the shape of the growth curve 
  through selection. The correlations between mature weight and maturation rate 
  were negative indicating that if selection is used to increase asymptotic weight 
  then there will be negative indirect selection on maturation rate.
ER  -