Gross Morphological and Morphometric Studies of Oviduct in Three Genotypes of Nigerian Indigenous Laying Chickens

Abstract

Gross and morphometric studies were carried out on the oviducts of three Nigerian indigenous genotypes of chicken. Fifteen adult laying chickens of three genotypes {five female per genotype of Normal Feathered (NoF), Naked Neck (Na) and Frizzle Feathered (FF)} were bought from Mokwa local markets. They were quarantined for two weeks, stabilized for another week, live weights were taken and then slaughtered using Halal method. After careful evisceration, segments of oviduct were examined grossly and then weights, lengths, thickness and width of the segments were obtained. The mean weights, lengths and widths of the infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, vagina and entire oviduct of the three studied genotypes were not significantly different (P>0.05) from one another, except the width of uterus (P≤0.05). All the three genotypes have similar gross and morphometric patterns except that the uterus of Na and FF had significantly (P≤0.05), wider width compared to the NoF. This study in addition to its contribution to the knowledge of comparative avian anatomy up to genotype level, has also established a comparative baseline data for further gross and morphometric reproductive studies in these genotypes of Nigerian indigenous chickens.