Statistical Modelling of Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements in Nigerian Indigenous Chicken

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between body weight and linear body parameters in the Nigerian indigenous chickens, and to establish equations for predicting body weight of local chickens using linear body measurements. A total of forty female local chickens were used for the experiment. The birds were managed intensively for a month before measurements were taken from each bird. Body weight was measured using weighing balance. Linear body parametersshank length, wing length, thigh length, body girth and back length, were measured using a tailor's tape. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. The correlations between body weight and linear body measurements were determined using Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r). Data were also subjected to simple and multiple linear regression analysis. Correlations between body weight and the linear body measurements (shank length, body girth, wing length, thigh length and back length) were high, positive and significant (P<0.01). The values of the coefficients of determination (R 2 ) ranged from 0.659 to 0.802, with shank length showing the highest R 2 value. This implies that shank length could be the best predictor of body weight of Nigerian local chickens. The predictive equations showed that there were significant (P<0.01) relationships between body weight and linear body measurements. High R 2 values observed in this study shows that the predictive equations could be used to predict body weight accurately, with the multiple regression model being more efficient than the simple regression models.