1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, China
2Jilin Grain Groups of Agriculture and Livestock Co., Ltd., Changchun 130062, Jilin, China
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, China
*Corresponding author's e-mail: poultryjlau@163.com
Online published on 3 July, 2017.
The objectives of this study were to establish the direct and indirect effects of the relationship between body weight and body measurements on both sexes of the indigenous Chinese Dagu chicken and to develop a functional model for predicting body weight using different body measurements. The path analysis in female chickens revealed that shank length has the highest direct effect (path coefficient=0.233) on body weight and pelvis width showed higher indirect effect on body weight via shank length. In male chickens, the path analysis showed that body slope length has the highest direct effect (path coefficient=0. 120) on the body weight of indigenous Chinese Dagu chickens, while fossil bone length has the highest indirect effect on body weight via body slope length. The equations could serve as a useful practical tool for livestock farmers, researchers and rural development workers for body weight estimation in the field and for selection purposes.
Body measurements, Body weight, Dagu chicken, Indirect effect, Path analysis
