Genetics of Body Conformation and Feed Efficiency Characteristics in a Control Line of Rhode Island Red Chicken

This investigation aimed to assess genetics of body conformation and feed efficiency traits in a control line of Rhode Island Red (RIR) chicken taking single hatched out pedigreed 100 chicks at Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, India. Data was analyzed by least squares analysis of variance. Least squares means of chick weight (CW), body weight (BW), shank length (SL), keel length (KL), breast angle (BA), body weight gain (WG), feed intake (FC) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were estimated at various weeks of age. Sex had significant effect on BA at 4th week, SL at 12th week, SL and KL at 16th week; males being better than females throughout the ages, but sex did not show any significant effect on any feed efficiency traits; though males performed better than females almost at all ages. Sire had significant effect on CW, KL at 6th week, SL, KL and BA at 12th week, BW and BA at 16th week. Sire also affected (P