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Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Awi Zone, Ethiopia

Received: 2 October 2020     Accepted: 21 October 2020     Published: 4 November 2020
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Abstract

The study was conducted in three districts of Awi zone in Amhara region, with the aim to characterize and identify the phenotypic variation of indigenous chicken ecotypes. A total of 720 indigenous chicken ecotypes were (504) females and (216) males from the whole districts) to describe qualitative and quantitative traits. Local chicken were mostly normally feathered and large phenotypic variability among ecotypes was observed for plumage color. A many plumage colors were identified in all districts in which Red in high-land and mid-land and Gebsima (grayish) colours in low-land were the predominant color of the study area beside a large diversity. The average body weight of local chickens in high-land, mid-land and low-land agro-ecologies were 1.476, 1.75 and 1.71kg respectively, while the respective values for mature cocks and hens were 1.78 and 1.51kg. Variations were also observed in shank length, chest circumference, body length, neck length, wingspan, wing length, comb width, comb length and shank circumference. In conclusion, there is diversity of indigenous chicken population and farmers’ preference of different traits that may invite to design community based genetic improvement. These were recommended in poultry breeding policy which focused on managemental system, selection, and trait preference should be designed.

Published in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13
Page(s) 131-139
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Characterization, Morphology, Production Environment

References
[1] FAOSTAT Database, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from http://faostat.fao.org/faostat/, FAO, Rome.
[2] CSA (central statistical agency). 2016/17 [2009 E. C.] livestock and livestock characteristics (private peasant holdings); agricultural sample survey volume 2, federal democratic republic of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[3] FAO, (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).2012.Phenotypic characterization of animal genetic resources. FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines No. 11. Rome. [Accessed on 25. 05. 2014]. Available at http://www.fao.org/docreep/015/i2686e/i2686e00.pdf. FAO, Rome.
[4] Aberra, M. and Tegene, N., 2011. Phenotypic and morphological characterization of indigenous chicken populations in southern region of Ethiopia. Animal Genetic Resources / Resources génétiques animales / Recursos geneticos animales, 49, 19-31.
[5] Halima, H., Neser, F. W. C., van Marle-Koster, E. and De Kock, A., 2007. Phenotypic variation of native chicken populations in northwest Ethiopia. Tropical animal healthand production, 39 (7), pp. 507-513.
[6] Cochran, W. G. 1963. Sampling Techniques, 2nd Ed., New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
[7] Khobondo, J. O., Okeno, T. O., Lihare, G. O., Wasike, C. B. and Kahi, A. K., 2015. The past, present and future genetic improvement of indigenous chicken of Kenya. Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos geneticos animales, 55, pp. 125-135.
[8] Horst, P., 1989. Native fowl as reservoir for genomes and major genes with direct and indirect effects on the adaptability and their potential for tropically orientated breeding plans. Archive Gefluegelkunde (Germany, FR). household type and household composition on women’s reproductive health outcomes in urban Uttar Pradesh, India. Decision- making, 6, 8.
[9] Addisu, G. and Aschalew, T., 2014. A Phenotypic and Genetic Characterized Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Ethiopia. International Journal of Genetics, 4 (1), 04-10.
[10] Mearg, F. E. A. R. G., 2016. Phenotypic characterization of local chicken ecotypes in the Central Zone of Tigray in northern Ethiopia (M.ScThesis, Jimma University).
[11] Emebet, M., Singh, H., Sisaye, T. and Johansson, A. M., 2013. Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken population in South West and South part of Ethiopia. Br. J. Poult. Sci, 3 (1), pp. 15-19.
[12] Eskindir, K., Tadelle D., and Banerjee, A. K. 2013. Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Population in Ethiopia. International Journal. Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8 (11): 1014–1021.
[13] Bogale K., 2008. InSitu Characterization of Local Chicken Eco-Type for Functional Traits and Production System in Fogera District, Amhara Regional State. MSc Thesis Harmaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia.
[14] Addisu H., 2013. Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in North Wollo Amhara Regional State. MSc Thesis, Wollo University, Wollo, Ethiopia.
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  • APA Style

    Andualem Yihun, Manzoor Ahmed Kirmani, Meseret Molla. (2020). Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 5(4), 131-139. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13

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    ACS Style

    Andualem Yihun; Manzoor Ahmed Kirmani; Meseret Molla. Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Ecol. Evol. Biol. 2020, 5(4), 131-139. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13

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    AMA Style

    Andualem Yihun, Manzoor Ahmed Kirmani, Meseret Molla. Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Ecol Evol Biol. 2020;5(4):131-139. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13,
      author = {Andualem Yihun and Manzoor Ahmed Kirmani and Meseret Molla},
      title = {Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Awi Zone, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Ecology and Evolutionary Biology},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {131-139},
      doi = {10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eeb.20200504.13},
      abstract = {The study was conducted in three districts of Awi zone in Amhara region, with the aim to characterize and identify the phenotypic variation of indigenous chicken ecotypes. A total of 720 indigenous chicken ecotypes were (504) females and (216) males from the whole districts) to describe qualitative and quantitative traits. Local chicken were mostly normally feathered and large phenotypic variability among ecotypes was observed for plumage color. A many plumage colors were identified in all districts in which Red in high-land and mid-land and Gebsima (grayish) colours in low-land were the predominant color of the study area beside a large diversity. The average body weight of local chickens in high-land, mid-land and low-land agro-ecologies were 1.476, 1.75 and 1.71kg respectively, while the respective values for mature cocks and hens were 1.78 and 1.51kg. Variations were also observed in shank length, chest circumference, body length, neck length, wingspan, wing length, comb width, comb length and shank circumference. In conclusion, there is diversity of indigenous chicken population and farmers’ preference of different traits that may invite to design community based genetic improvement. These were recommended in poultry breeding policy which focused on managemental system, selection, and trait preference should be designed.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    AU  - Andualem Yihun
    AU  - Manzoor Ahmed Kirmani
    AU  - Meseret Molla
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    JF  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JO  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200504.13
    AB  - The study was conducted in three districts of Awi zone in Amhara region, with the aim to characterize and identify the phenotypic variation of indigenous chicken ecotypes. A total of 720 indigenous chicken ecotypes were (504) females and (216) males from the whole districts) to describe qualitative and quantitative traits. Local chicken were mostly normally feathered and large phenotypic variability among ecotypes was observed for plumage color. A many plumage colors were identified in all districts in which Red in high-land and mid-land and Gebsima (grayish) colours in low-land were the predominant color of the study area beside a large diversity. The average body weight of local chickens in high-land, mid-land and low-land agro-ecologies were 1.476, 1.75 and 1.71kg respectively, while the respective values for mature cocks and hens were 1.78 and 1.51kg. Variations were also observed in shank length, chest circumference, body length, neck length, wingspan, wing length, comb width, comb length and shank circumference. In conclusion, there is diversity of indigenous chicken population and farmers’ preference of different traits that may invite to design community based genetic improvement. These were recommended in poultry breeding policy which focused on managemental system, selection, and trait preference should be designed.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 4
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Author Information
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia

  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, University of Gonder, Gonder, Ethiopia

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