Abstract
A study was carried out from June 2008 to May 2009 on Aseel and F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly chicken under intensive rearing system at Chattogram District of Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to estimate phenotypic characteristics and weight-gain up to sexual maturity of Aseel and F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly chicken. The Aseel and F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly chickens were collected from the Sarail Upazila of Brahmanbaria District and hill tract regions of Bangladesh. After collection the chickens their morphological characteristics and the measurements of different body parts were recorded. The average mature weight of Aseel male and female were 4000±94.99 gm and 2200±67.82 gm. There earlobe is red and they possess single comb in case of male and strawberry type comb in case of female and there shank color is yellowish white in male and yellow in female. The shank length, the total body length and ground to head height was recorded in male and female 15.24±.22cm and 10.79±.10cm, 73.66±.76cm and 56.52±.53cm, 60.96±.43cm and 48.26±.42cm respectively. The length of sickle feather was found 26.67±.77cm in cock. Adult live weight of F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly males and females were 900 ±28.67gm and 850±24.04gm respectively. There earlobe is red and they possess single comb and there shank color is blackish yellow. Length, color of wattle rudimentary, red and the color of eye and eye ring was found black and red in both male and female F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly. The shank length, beak to tail length and ground to head height was found in case of F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly male and female 8.89±.31cm and 7.62±.35cm, 54.46±.55cm and 38.98±.53cm, 31.75±.62cm and 25.4±.58cm respectively. But the length of sickle feather of cock was found 33.02±.46 cm. The average weight-gain of Aseel chicks after first laying age was (1995 gm) which was higher than that of F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly (850 gm). The first laying age of both Aseel and F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly were 210 and 180 days respectively. Weight-gain and environmental adaptation of Aseel chicks were better than F<SUB>1</SUB> of Hilly. So, the former breed is better for conservation issue than the later in the ex-situ conservation system.
Highlights
140 million chickens are scattered throughout 68,000 villages in Bangladesh which mostly of indigenous nondescript type [1]
The shank length, beak to tail length and ground to head height was found in case of F1 of Hillymale and female 8.89±.31cm and 7.62±.35cm, 54.46±.55cm and 38.98±.53cm, 31.75±.62cm and 25.4±.58cm respectively
There was no past finding about F1 of Hilly Chicken but some characteristics was found like Red Jungle fowl which were long sickle feather and eye ring color was red
Summary
140 million chickens are scattered throughout 68,000 villages in Bangladesh which mostly of indigenous nondescript type [1]. Native chickens constitute a special genetic niche evolved by natural selection which is crucial to the continued animal production in the country [3]. The indigenous chickens have undergone unknown periods of natural selection and are a reservoir of excellent genetic diversity. They show high level of morphological and phenotypic variability and increased fitness under natural settings [10]. Indigenous chicken population is composed of a number of breeds/types such as non-descript Deshi, Aseel, Naked Neck and Hilly [2]. Aseel is well known for its pugnacity, high stamina, majestic gait and dogged fighting qualities.
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