MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL MATURITY CHARACTERISTICS OF COCKERELS OF BOVAN NERA AND ISA BROWN PARENT STOCK STRAINS IN IBADAN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

O. M. A. JESUYON

Animal Breeding and genetics Unit, Department of Animal Production and Health Federal University Oye-Ekiti, P. M. B. 373, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

E. mail: dr.oluwatosinjesuyon14@gmail.com

 The objective of the study was to elucidate some of the factors that affect growth and development of breeder cockerels on deep-litter system in the environment. Sexual maturity characteristics in cockerel are important breeding and management indices. T en records namely cockerel weight at 10 weeks (CW10Wks), cockerel weight at first spermatozoa production (CWFS), cockerel weight at full maturity (CWFM), Feed uptake at 10 Weeks (FU10Wks), Feed uptake at first spermatozoa production (FUFS), feed uptake at full maturity (FUFM), Age at first spermatozoa production (AFS), Age at full maturity (AFM), Batch and genotype were extracted from the record books of a popular Parent stock breeding farm in Ibadan, Nigeria. The study materials were Bovan Nera and Isa Brown Strains. Data were grouped into seasons, maturity group and genotype before they were subjected to ANOVA (p