Determination of environments and genes on the interaction effects of fixed factors on biometrical traits of local chicken ecotypes, Ethiopia

Abstract

Addis Getu

An exploratory field survey was conducted in the three districts of Quara, Alefa and Tachearmacheho, Ethiopia to determine the Role of Environments and Genes on the Interaction Effects of Fixed factors on Biometrical Traits of Local Chicken Ecotypes. Interaction effect results of live body weight and linear body measurements in the fixed effect of sexes, ecotype and their interactions are main effect. Males is significantly (P<0.01) influenced and main source of variation in all traits than females except keel length. Therefore, the fixed effect of sex was the main cause of variations of the measurable traits from the population mean. Whereas Ecotype effect on body weight and linear body measurements of Necked neck ecotype had largely oriented in bodyweight and liner body measurements than Gasgie and Gugut ecotypes. Whereas, Gasgie ecotype is significantly (p<0.01) longer with interaction effect of keel length among the others. Except shank circumstance, smaller body weight and linear body measurements are obtained from the effect of Gugut chicken ecotype than the others. Sex by ecotype interaction effect on comb width, wattle length, wattle width, spur length, shank circumstance and keel length of matured chicken ecotype was observed (Table 1). However, there was no significant (P>0.05) sex by ecotype interaction effects on wingspan, shank length, body length, comb length and beak length among the three breeds. The other quantitative traits had significant (P<0.05) effects and this implies the significant variation were indicted that stable parameters are highly associated or governed by genotype rather than environmental effects.