Growth Performance of Australorp x Tswana Crossbred Chickens under an Intensive Management System

Abstract

Indigenous Tswana chickens are better adapted to prevailing environmental conditions and diseases than their exotic counterparts. They however exhibit slower growth rate and less mature final weight than their exotic counterparts. Crossbreeding of indigenous Tswana chickens with exotic chicken breeds can therefore be used as an alternative strategy to improve growth performance of indigenous Tswana chickens by taking advantage of breed complementarily and heterosis. The current study was therefore aimed at evaluating growth performance of Australorp x indigenous Tswana chickens F1 crossbred progeny relative to purebred indigenous Tswana chickens under an intensive management system. A total of 42 Australorp x Tswana crossbred chickens and 44 purebred indigenous Tswana chickens were evaluated for growth performance (body weight) every fortnight from 4-18 weeks of age. The chickens were raised under a deep litter house system and provided with water and commercial feeds ad libitum. Males of both crossbred and purebred chickens were generally heavier (p>0.05) than their age-matched female counterparts at different ages. Body weight was however significantly higher in Australorp x Tswana crossbred males and females than their indigenous purebred counterparts at 18 weeks of age. Growth was also more enhanced in crossbred Australorp x Tswana males than Females. Crossbreeding can therefore be used as a strategy to improve growth performance of indigenous Tswana chickens raised under an intensive management system. The study however needs to be repeated to evaluate growth performance of crossbred chickens under free range system commonly practiced in rural areas of Botswana.