Statistical modelling of body weight and linear body measurements in FUNAAB-Alpha meat type chicken

This study examined the relationship between body weight and linear body measurements in FUNAAB-Alpha meat-type chickens. Six hundred chicks (200 each of Normal, Naked neck, and Frizzle) were raised from 2 to 8 weeks and evaluated biweekly for body weight, shank length, keel length, and breast girth. Feather type significantly (p < 0.05) influenced all growth traits across most ages, with Naked neck and Frizzle birds consistently outperforming the Normal feather type. Strong positive correlations were observed between body weight and all linear measurements within the three feather types. Breast girth was the best single predictor of body weight, while multiple regression models combining shank length, keel length, and breast girth improved prediction accuracy (R² = 0.88–0.93). These findings indicate that linear body measurements particularly breast girth provide reliable, non-invasive estimates of live body weight and can support more effective selection and breeding strategies for FUNAAB-Alpha chickens.