Growth-Related Hormone Profiles in Four Chicken Genotypes Under Nigerian Humid Tropical Conditions
Variability of growth-related hormones across different chicken (Gallus gallus) genotypes is crucial for understanding their adaptive capabilities, performance potential, and suitability for production in the humid region of Nigeria. This study investigated the diversity of growth-related hormones, specifically insulin and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), among four chicken genotypes—Normal Feather (NF), Frizzle Feather (FF), Naked Neck (NN), and ISA Brown (IB)—raised in Nigeria's humid region. A total of 120 chickens, evenly distributed across genotypes and sexes, were sampled at 24 weeks of age. Hormonal levels were analyzed using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model and Cluster Analysis of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 22), the mean difference of the different groups was determined using Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Significance level was at P