Relationship between markers and quantitative traits in the Nigerian local chicken

A 20-week experiment was conducted to determine the relationship between markers and some quantitative traits in the Nigerian Local chicken. A total of fifty normal female chickens, about 16-18 weeks of age were used for the study. Data were collected bi-weekly on physiological and biochemical markers (packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leucocyte count, blood haemoglobin, blood glucose, rectal temperature) and quantitative traits (egg weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit, body weight, short term egg production) from each bird. The association between each identified marker and the quantitative traits was determined using Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient. Rectal temperature showed significant (P < 0.05) positive association with shell thickness and body weight. Packed cell volume showed significant (p < 0.05) positive association with Haugh unit. However, significant (p < 0.01) negative association was found between rectal temperature and Haugh unit. Packed cell volume showed significant (p < 0.01) negative association with shell thickness and egg weight (p < 0.05). Other markers did not show any significant association with the quantitative traits studied. The results of this study suggest that since packed cell volume and rectal temperature showed definite association with important quantitative traits, they should be included in the marker bank that could be used by animal breeders and producers in marker assisted selection.