Growth Performance of Australorp x Tswana Crossbred
Chickens under an Intensive Management System
Abstract:
Indigenous Tswana chickens are better adapted to prevailing
environmental conditions and diseases than their exotic counterparts. They however
exhibit slower growth rate and less mature final weight than their exotic counterparts.
Crossbreeding of indigenous Tswana chickens with exotic chicken breeds can therefore
be used as an alternative strategy to improve growth performance of indigenous
Tswana chickens by taking advantage of breed complementarily and heterosis.
The current study was therefore aimed at evaluating growth performance of Australorp
x indigenous Tswana chickens F1 crossbred progeny relative to purebred indigenous
Tswana chickens under an intensive management system. A total of 42 Australorp
x Tswana crossbred chickens and 44 purebred indigenous Tswana chickens were
evaluated for growth performance (body weight) every fortnight from 4-18 weeks
of age. The chickens were raised under a deep litter house system and provided
with water and commercial feeds ad libitum. Males of both crossbred and purebred
chickens were generally heavier (p>0.05) than their age-matched female counterparts
at different ages. Body weight was however significantly higher in Australorp
x Tswana crossbred males and females than their indigenous purebred counterparts
at 18 weeks of age. Growth was also more enhanced in crossbred Australorp x
Tswana males than Females. Crossbreeding can therefore be used as a strategy
to improve growth performance of indigenous Tswana chickens raised under an
intensive management system. The study however needs to be repeated to evaluate
growth performance of crossbred chickens under free range system commonly practiced
in rural areas of Botswana.
How to cite this article
Patrick M. Kgwatalala and Phakedi Segokgo, 2013. Growth Performance of Australorp x Tswana Crossbred
Chickens under an Intensive Management System. International Journal of Poultry Science, 12: 358-361.
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