Albumin Polymorphism in Nigeria Local Ecotype and Exotic Breed

Abstract

All agricultural animals have experienced a growing loss of genetic diversity. Nigerian local ecotypes are valuable dual-purpose birds possessing highly conserved genetic systems and adaptive potentials to varied ecological conditions. Furthermore, albumin polymorphisms have been utilized as markers to compare allele frequencies within and between these chicken populations. To properly take advantage of strain differences and facilitate genetic development in breeding, diversity research on these specific ecotypes is essential. This study investigated genetic diversity at the albumin locus to identify and quantify alleles within diverse chicken populations, specifically the Abuja, Yoruba, and Fulani ecotypes, alongside an Exotic breed. Typing 200 birds via cellulose acetate electrophoresis revealed two co-dominant alleles (Ab A and Ab B) and two present genotypes (Ab AA and Ab AB), while the Ab BB genotype was absent across all populations. The populations exhibited high observed heterozygosity (0.4725), indicating increasing genetic heterogeneity, while the genetic variance between the investigated populations was minor. Dendrogram analysis established that Yoruba and Fulani chickens share more genetic similarities with each other than with the exotic broiler breeds. These findings establish a baseline that could serve as a reference point for the genetic diversity improvement of both indigenous and exotic chicken breeds using biochemical markers.