Prospects for utilization of the relationship between zoometrical measurements and performance traits for poultry and livestock genetic improvement in developing countries
Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Animal Science - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 11
Abstract
The preceding review looks at the prospects for utilization of the relationship between zoometrical measurements and performance traits for poultry and livestock genetic improvement in developing countries. Improvement of poultry and livestock indigenous to developing countries is paramount in order to increase their contribution to the much needed animal protein due to human population increase in this part of the world. However, this is on the background that the estimates of genetic parameters for performance traits in poultry and livestock are scarce in developing countries because of failure of most attempted selection schemes, which has been exacerbated by the problems of measuring of performance traits due to lack of appropriate technologies. Assessment of the performance of poultry and livestock species is done using various indices, most especially on growth and development traits as well as body conformational traits. The significant genotypic correlations between the body weight and the zoometrical measurements and the heritability of the body weight at various stages of livestock production indicate a systematic cause which can be important to consider for livestock breeding and selection purposes. In case, where the genetic correlations between zoometrical measurements and performance traits of concern are positive and high this implies that the traits are genetically linked. Morphological properties can provide to some extent a reasonable representation of the differences among the genotypes within the same species, though not exhaustive, it serves as the foundation upon which DNA analysis can be built. Selection for improved production within poultry and livestock breeds or ecotypes is problematic for one of the following reasons: for effective selection depends on accurate recording of pedigree and performance traits. The complexity of measuring some of the performance traits due to lack of necessary equipment or technology presents considerable obstacles to effective selection for improved performance in developing countries. Unlike the developing world, recently, DNA analysis through molecular markers has provided an invaluable new technology in poultry and livestock improvement for determining the relationships among individuals, breeds and ecotypes.
Authors and Affiliations
N. Assan *| Open University , Zimbabwe .
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP727
- DOI 10.14196/ sjas .v 4 i 1 1 . 2020
- Views 444
- Downloads 19
Effect of “inhibin” from bovine testicular and follicular fluids on attainment of puberty in male rabbits
For this study, 15 young male rabbits of same breeds, with age range of 11-12 weeks old and weighing 1.0 ±0.2kg were used. These were randomly assigned to three treatments, each consisting of five rabbits per treatment....
The use of poultry litter as a replacement of cotton seed cake used in feeding Yankasa sheep
Twelve Yankasa sheep were fed three treatment diets for 56 days to study the effect of supplementation on their feed intake, water intake and weight changes before grazing. Before the commencement of the experiment the p...
Effect of supplementing fixed level of treated Acacia saligna (Labill) H.L.Wendi. leaves on weight change and carcass characteristics of Abergelle goats
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding fixed level of treated Acacia saligna leaves (ASL) on feed intake, live body weight change and carcass characteristics of Abergelle goats. The experiment was execut...
Effect of supplementing graded level of poultry litter and wheat bran on performance of Abergelle bucks
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the appropriate level of poultry litter and wheat bran ration supplementation on feed intake, body weight gain and cost benefit analysis of Abergelle bucks fed on a grass hay...
Researches regarding reproductive parameters in teleorman’s blackhead sheep
This study is an important part of an ample research regarding the opportunity for establishment of regional centers for artificial insemination, in order to improve milk production. Is very important to know the curre...