MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS CHICKEN AND THEIR PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN SILTE, DALOCHA AND WULBAREG WOREDAS OF SILT'E ZONE, SOUTH REGION, ETHIOPIA
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2019-06
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Abstract
A survey together with visual observation and body measurement was conducted in twelve selected farmers’ kebeles of Silti, Dalocha, and Wulbareg woredas, located in Silte zone south region of Ethiopia; with the objectives to characterize the morphological characteristics of domestic indigenous chicken and to assess the existing chicken production systems. Data on visual appraisal and linear body measurements were obtained from a total of 600 matured local chickens of both sexes drawn from 120 households. 5 mature chickens (aged more than 6 months) from each household were used for morphological characteristics study. The results indicated that the majority of the male chicken possessed plain head shape (94.7%) and most of them had rose combs (69.7%), grayish (‘Gebsma’) plumage (49%), yellow shank (58.6%), white and red earlobes (47.1%) and ash skin (46.6%). Majority of the hens possessed rose combs (63.8%), white and red earlobes (47.2%), yellow shank (47.7%), grayish (‘Gebsma’) plumage (48.5%) followed by black (‘Tem’) (22.1%) and red (‘Kei’) /red with black tail (11%). The cocks were generally heavier (1.8 kg) than the hens (1.3 kg). The values for wingspan, comb length, beak length, body weight, breast angle, and keel bone length differed (P< 0.05) across the study woredas. The best predictor for assessing the body weight of chicken was shank length and wattle length. The results indicated that the average flock size, age at first egg of hens and eggs produced per clutch were 9.9 heads, 5.8 months and 14.1 eggs, respectively. The number of clutch per hen per year and total eggs produced per hen per year was 3.05 and 43.01 eggs, respectively. The hatchability and survival rate of chicks were 91.9% and 50.5%. Chicken diseases and predators were considered to be the largest threat to village chicken production. The present study suggests that indigenous chickens in the study area possess useful economic traits that could be improved through systematic breeding for enhanced productivity, health care, housing, and feeding are required under scavenging production systems.
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Indigenous chickens, Linear body measurement, Qualitative traits