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ISSN: 2360-7874 |
Academic Research Journal of
Agricultural Science and Research |
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Vol. 7(6), pp. 348-358, September 2019 Research Phenotypic Characterization of Local Chicken Ecotypes in the Central Zone of Tigray Region
Mearg Fitsum†, Berhanu Belay* and Yayneshet Tesfay#
† Tigray Agricultural Research institute Axum Agricultural Research Center, P.O .Box. 230, Axum, Tigray,Ethiopia * Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia #International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.BOX, 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Corresponding author Address:- P.O .Box. 230, Axum, Tigray, Ethiopia email: meargf@yahoo.com Accepted 20 August 2019
The study was conducted in three districts of central zone of Tigray, with the aim, to assess the phenotypic characteristics of the local chicken. Nine qualitative and nineteen quantitative traits from 457chickens were considered. The study revealed that local chicken mostly have normal feather (hens 97.8%, cocks 96%)with a few showing necked neck(0.6%) and feathered shank and feet(2%).Very diverse plumage coloration of chicken was observed with highest proportion of red (32%), grayish and brownish (17%). Red comb color in females and males dominated in all of studied area. The highest proportion of eye color was orange (hens 96.1%, cocks 98%) followed by brown (hens 2.2%, cocks 2%) yellow and blue and red. The majority of the chickens possessed comb shape type (44.3%) followed by single (39%) and pea (15.7%)comb. Almost all chickens (91.6%) of the study area do not have spur. The predominant earlobe color was white and red (35.7%), black (33.7%) red (28.9%).The overall mean body weight of local chicken across agro ecologies was 1.36kg (1.54kg male and 1.34kg female).The average length of breast width, length of spur, thigh circumference, chest circumference and shank length in the study area was 13.61cm, 2.46cm, 9.08cm, 28.90cm and 9.78cm, respectively. The average width of earlobe, beak length, beak width, earlobe length, comb length, comb width and height at back in the study area were 1.78cm, 2.80cm, 3.24cm, 1.50cm, 1.50cm, 3.85cm and 29.12cm, respectively. Morph metric measurements indicated that significance differences (P<0.05) were observed between agro ecology with respect to breast width, spur length, chest circumferences and shank length. In all parameters, male shows higher significance (P<0.001) value than female except breast width and beak width. In conclusion, there is diversity of indigenous chicken population that may invite to design community based genetic improvement.
Key words: indigenous chicken, midland, highland
How to cite this article (APA Style): Mearg F., Berhanu B., Yayneshet T (2019). Phenotypic Characterization of Local Chicken Ecotypes in the Central Zone of Tigray Region. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 7(6): 348-358
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