Genetic and phenotypic parameters for feed efficiency in indigenous chicken in Kenya
Publication Date
2018-01-01Author
Miyumo, Sophie
Wasike, Chrilukovian B
Kahi, Alexander K
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract/ Overview
This study aims to determine the genetic and phenotypic parameters of net feed
efficiency (NFE) traits namely Residual feed intake (RFI), residual gain (RG), and residual
intake and gain (RIG) along the growth curve of indigenous chicken in Kenya. Feed intake
and body weight data was collected on 107 experimental birds on a daily and weekly basis,
respectively from 77 days to 140 days of age. Random regression sire model was used for
analysis, fitting Legendre polynomials as basis function. Sex, hatch group and interaction
between sex and cluster constituted fixed effects in the model while additive genetic and
permanent environmental effects were fitted as random variables. A heteroscedastic
residual variance was modelled by grouping the test period into nine classes. The orders of
polynomial fit for additive genetic and permanent environmental effects in the model were …