Combining abilities among four breeds of chicken for feed efficiency variation: a preliminary assessment for chicken improvement in Nigeria.

General and specific combining abilities for feed efficiency in 5,191 chicks from a combination of four breeds of chickens, (Anak Titan (A), Alpha (B), Giriraja (G), and normal indigenous (N) chickens) were examined by means of diallel analysis. The analysis revealed that Anak Titan had the highest general combining ability of 0.07 ± 0.00 while the least was Alpha with a value of -0.09 ± 0.00. The results of the specific combining abilities (SCA) reveal a high value of SCA in GN cross with a value of 0.08 ± 0.01 while the least value was -0.12 ± 0.01 (AN cross). It is recommended that an improvement process for feed efficiency that involves all the breeds should be adapted using a reciprocal recurrent selection or modifications of it. Anak Titan will be a good sire line and the GN cross a good dam line to use in such an improvement program.