Morphological Variations and Path Coefficient Analysis of Zoometric Traits of Local Chickens in Tolon District of Northern Ghana

Abstract

The knowledge of morphometric measurements is paramount in domestic chicken production and marketing practices hence this research was undertaken to determine the morphological characteristics of domestic chicken in the Tolon District of Ghana. Birds reared under the traditional scavenging system, were randomly selected in four (Nyankpala, Tolon, Woribogu and Dondo) communities. Live body weight (BW) and thirteen morphometric traits namely, body length (BDL), chest circumference (CC), thigh circumference (TC), drumstick length (DL), shank length (SL), wing length (WGL), neck length (NL), head width (HDW), hip width (HPW), comb length (CL), head length (HDL), wattle length (WAL) and beak length (BKL) were measured. The data was subjected to general linear model, correlation and path coefficient analyses. The results revealed that, domestic chickens were generally smaller in sizes. The average values recorded were 0.99kg, 18.98cm, 20.60cm, 7.78cm, 11.78cm, 8.05cm, 16.17cm, 12.15cm, 2.34cm, 7.57cm, 3.39cm, 2.28cm, 1.70cm and 2.60cm for BW, BDL, CC, TC, DL, SL, WGL, NL, HDW, HPW, CL, HDL, WAL and BKL respectively. Location of birds significantly (P< 0.05) affected morphometric traits (BDL, CC, TC, SL, WGL, NL, HDW, CL, HPW, and WAL) of birds. Similarly, sex of birds had significant (P<0.05) effects on BDL, DL, SL, WGL, NL, HDW, CL, HDL, WAL and BKL whereas age had no significant (P>0.05) influence on any morphometric traits. The presence of crest affected (P<0.05) the variations in DL, SL, WAL and BKL. Also, presence of spur affected the variations (P<0.05) in BW, DL, NL, CL, HDL, WAL and BKL whiles comb type had no significant (P>0.05) effects on any morphometric trait. Correlation coefficients were generally low, with the highest (0.513) recorded between TC and CC. The highest direct path coefficient was obtained from CC (0.237), followed by BDL (0.156) and WAL (0.153). The findings of this work will be useful in characterization studies and breeding program for local domestic chickens.