Abstract:
Two experiments were conducted to develop naked neck (Na/na) and normal feathered
(na/na) crossbreds and compare their growth performance, linear body measurements and carcass
characteristics in the first and second filial generations.
2. In the first experiment, 4 indigenous naked neck males (Na/na) were mated to 36 Lohmann
commercial females (na/na) in a ratio of 1:9. The two genotypes (Na/na, na/na) were allocated randomly
according to batches of hatch, sire lines and sex to three different villages.
3. In the second experiment, 10 males and 100 females of F1 Na/na birds were selected and mated inter se in a
ratio of 1:10. The three genotypes (Na/Na, Na/na and na/na) were compared in a randomised complete block
design experiment, with the three villages, hatch and sex as blocks and the three genotypes as treatments. F1
Na/na birds had significantly higher (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio, body weight, body weight gain, linear
body measurements, survivability and carcass yield than their na/na counterparts.
4. In the F2 generation, Na/Na and Na/na birds had significantly higher (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio,
body weight, body weight gain, linear body measurements, survivability and carcass yield compared to
their na/na counterparts.
5. The birds showing the naked neck phenotype appeared to show superior performance compared to
normal feathered birds and could be exploited for potential utilisation in local poultry production
