Morphometric and morphological characterization of chicken resources adapted to pastoral and agropastoral areas of southern Ethiopia

Amine Mustefa,Abraham Assefa,Hizkel Kenfo,Abebe Hailu,Teklewold Belayhun

doi:10.46265/genresj.ndfm2712

Abstract

Thirteen qualitative and six quantitative variables taken from 303 adult chickens (95 cocks and 208 hens) from three locations/districts were used to phenotypically characterize the indigenous chicken populations in pastoral areas of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. The studied traits were influenced by the effect of location and sex, where chicken populations from Hamer district and females of all districts were the smallest and lightest. Qualitative characteristics of the studied chicken populations such as normal feather morphology and distribution, plain plumage pattern, flat head shape, triangular body shape, and dominant red eye, earlobe and plumage colour suggest that they constitute previously undescribed populations. Chest circumference, wingspan and body length were the three most important morphometric traits used in discriminating the studied chicken populations. On average, 61% of the sampled populations were classified correctly into their respective locations. The multivariate analysis results discriminate the chicken populations into two groups: the Hamer group and the Omo group (chickens from Bena Tsemay and Male districts). However, such grouping should be confirmed and advanced to ecotype level using further genetic characterization studies as the observed phenotypic differences might be due to genetic or environmental variations. Such confirmation is important to design breeding programmes (for sustainable utilization) specific to each ecotype.

Highlights

Thirteen qualitative and six quantitative variables taken from 303 adult chickens (95 cocks and 208 hens) from three locations/districts were used to phenotypically characterize the indigenous chicken populations in pastoral areas of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia
Ethiopia, which is believed to be the main gate for most of the indigenous animal genetic resources from Asia to Africa, is one of the countries that possess a large number of livestock populations across the globe (EBI, 2016)
Due to the relatively low investment costs and the small quantity of land required for starting and running poultry production, it has become a suitable business for low-income farmers (FAO, 2019). This subsector is not contributing with its full capacity due to poor productivity of and less attention given to indigenous chickens

Summary

Introduction

Ethiopia, which is believed to be the main gate for most of the indigenous animal genetic resources from Asia to Africa, is one of the countries that possess a large number of livestock populations across the globe (EBI, 2016). Due to the relatively low investment costs and the small quantity of land required for starting and running poultry production, it has become a suitable business for low-income farmers (FAO, 2019). This subsector is not contributing with its full capacity due to poor productivity of and less attention given to indigenous chickens. Many exotic chicken breeds were disseminated in the country with the objective of increasing production and productivity, becoming the major threat to diversity due to the dilution of indigenous genetic resources and yet providing minimum effect on production and productivity

Methods

Results

Conclusion