Chicken Breeds Research Articles

Comprehensive sequencing of the genome and transcriptome of the Xishuangbanna game fowl

The Xishuangbanna game fowl, a local Chinese chicken breed renowned for its athleticism, is facing extinction. Despite its significance, research on its genome assembly and resequencing remains sparse, limiting our understanding of its genetic structure and function. In this study, we assembled a chromosome-level genome using second-generation sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), along with transcriptome sequencing. We also resequenced 62 individuals. The resulting assembly yielded a 1.09 gigabase (Gb) high-quality genome, 994.34 Gb of resequencing data, and 141.38 Gb of transcriptome data from 15 tissues. This comprehensive dataset provides valuable insights into the artificial selection processes shaping the breed and offers a solid foundation for further genetic and population studies.

Integrating lipidomics and metabolomics to reveal biomarkers of fat deposition in chicken meat

Local chicken breeds in China are highly regarded for their superior meat flavor. This study utilized lipidomics and non-targeted metabolomics to identify biomarkers influencing intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in the breast muscle of 42- and 180-day-old Jingyuan chickens. Results revealed that IMF content was higher in the breast muscle of 180-day-old Jingyuan chickens compared to 42-day-old chickens (P < 0.01). We identified 248 differentially expressed lipids (DELs) and 1042 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). The breast muscle of 180-day-old chickens contained higher levels of TG, fatty acid (FA) and cholesteryl ester (CE), with C16:1 and C18:1 being particularly abundant. Integration of non-targeted metabolomic analyses emphasized glycerolipid metabolism and vitamin digestion and absorption as the main pathways distinguishing between 42- and 180-day-old chickens. Additionally, the differential metabolites LysoPS 18:1, LysoPC 20:3, LysoPC 18:2, LysoPI 20:3, and Pantothenic acid contributed to enhanced meat flavor in Jingyuan chickens.

Pancreatic exocrine carcinoma in a lohmann brown chicken

A 23-month-old lohmann brown breed chicken showed symptoms of anorexia, depression and diarrhea before dying. It presented to the pathology laboratory for necropsy. The necropsy confirmed serosal, white and nodular widespread tumor infiltrations in different sizes in the intestines and periton adjacent to the pancreas. In the histological examination, poorly differentiated epithelial cells were seen to form tubular structures in the pancreatic tissue located between the duodenum. According to pathology, this case was diagnosed as pancreatic exocrine carcinoma. This case report provides histologic descriptions of the pancreatic exocrine carcinoma in a chicken that have been reported extremely rare in poultry and pet birds.

Pre-extension Popularization of Improved Dual Purpose Koekoek Chickens in Tahtay Maichew District Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Central zone of Tigray has potential and poultry stock. However, the productivity in terms of egg and meat is low since the majority of household depends on local chickens and rearing of their chickens through a traditional production practices. Then, the objectives of the pre-extension popularization of Koekoek breed was i) to popularize and evaluate the production performance the Koekoek breed chickens in the small holder Farmers and ii) To analyze farmers feedback towards this improved Koekoek chickens breed at smallholder farmers' management. T/maichew District, My-sie kebelle was selected based on the project financial support of Irish Aid Operational Research (OR) purposely. A total of 17 household heads willingly participated to adopt the Koekoek breeds. Data record sheet and semi-structured questionnaires were prepared to collect the required data. Then, using simple descriptive and Likert measurement level used to achieve result. The finding of the research shows that an annual average yield was found to be 204 eggs per year/ chicken. Similarly, the respondents agreed on that the chickens have well adapted, good growing ability, relatively resistance to diseases, have good scavenging ability, and productivity as well have medium eggs size and good egg and meat tasty of Koekoek chickens. The improved chickens’ breed (Koekoek) is better to be transferred to other mandate areas of Axum Agricultural Research Center. In addition, collaboration of stakeholders needs to be strengthening so that large scale demonstration community production system is going to be functional. Strengthen the human resource and institutional innovations are important point for dissemination of the improved poultry breeds to all beneficiaries of small holder farmers.

Analysis of Mannose-Binding Lectin Protein and mRNA Levels on Selected Chicken Breeds in South Africa.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key component of the innate immune system that plays a crucial role in binding to the microbial sugar surface to recognize and eliminate pathogens by activating the complement system. To detect and quantify the MBL protein concentration and chicken MBL expression in selected chicken breeds in South Africa. Forty-five blood samples from three indigenous chicken breeds, Ovambo (OV=9), Venda (VD=9) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK=9), and two exotic chicken breeds, Rhode Island Red (RIR=9) and Lohmann Brown (LB=9), were used for MBL protein concentration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Also 20 liver samples from symptomatic two indigenous chicken breeds, OV (5) and PK (5), and two exotic chicken breeds, RIR (5) and LB (5), were used for MBL expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques. A general linear model was done using Tukey's multiple comparison post hoc test. The findings revealed MBL protein concentration from 5.26 to 18.56µg/mL. The LB breed had the lowest mean 6.40±0.80µg/mL, whereas the PK breed had the highest mean MBL concentration of 17.70±0.24µg/mL of MBL protein concentration. At 12, 25 and 35 weeks, the MBL proteins of OV, VD, PK, RIR and LB varied significantly at p≤0.05. The mRNA MBL expression of OV and LB breeds showed a 1-fold decrease in MBL expression, while RIR showed a 2-fold increase in MBL expression, and the PK showed more than a 3-fold increase in MBL expression relative to the control. The least-squares means for OV, LB, PK and RIR mRNA MBL expression were 0.54±0.19, 0.68±0.30, 4.46±2.76 and 2.89±0.19µg/mL, respectively. MBL protein was detected and quantified with distinct differences in concentration and expression levels at the presence of mycoplasma gallisepticum among the sampled South African chicken breeds. This highlights the genetic diversity of MBL as a tool for disease prevention in South African chicken breeds.

Antimicrobial resistance and clonal relationships of Salmonella enterica Serovar Gallinarum biovar pullorum strains isolated in China based on whole genome sequencing

BackgroundPullorum disease is a serious problem in many countries. Caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (S. Pullorum), it creates huge economic losses in the poultry industry. Although pullorum disease has been well-controlled in many developed countries, it is still a critical problem in developing countries. However, there is still a lack of information on S. Pullorum strains isolated from different regions and sources in China. The objective of this study was to supply the antimicrobial resistance patterns and clonal relationships of S. Pullorum from breeder chicken farms.MethodsIn this study, a total of 114 S. Pullorum strains recovered from 11 provinces and municipalities in China between 2020 and 2021 were selected. These 114 S. Pullorum strains were analyzed using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was tested both by genotypic prediction using the WGS method and using disc diffusion to assess phenotypic AMR.ResultsThese 114 sequenced S. Pullorum strains were divided into three sequence types (STs), the dominant STs was ST92 (104/114). Further core genome multi-locus sequence typing analysis indicated that 114 S. Pullorum strains may have a close relationship, which could be clonally transmitted among different provinces and municipalities. Our results showed a close relationship between the S. Pullorum strains found in different regions, indicating these strains may have been transmitted in China a long time ago. Nearly all S. Pullorum strains 94.74% (n = 108) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial class, and 35.96% of the examined Salmonella strains were considered multiple drug resistant.ConclusionOverall, this study showed that S. Pullorum strains in China have a close genetic relationship in terms of antimicrobial resistance, suggesting widespread clonal transmission.

Transcriptome analyses of shell color and egg production traits between the uteruses of blue-green eggshell chickens and Hy-Line brown layers

Blue-green eggs exhibit unique shell color; however, compared to commercial layers, blue-green eggshell chickens have lower egg production and lack uniform shell colors. Aiming to confirm the molecular mechanisms that affect shell color and egg production, this study collected the uteruses of 12 blue-green eggshell chickens (BG group) and six Hy-Line layers (Brown group), which had significantly different shell color indexes (SCI) and egg numbers at 300 days of age (EN300). Transcriptome sequencing and comparative analyses were subsequently performed. BG hens were divided into two groups for comparative analysis (BGblue vs. BGgreen and BGlow vs. BGhigh, respectively), based on the differences in SCI and EN300, respectively. The result of weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) analysis showed that the sequenced and mapped 16,785 genes were clustered into 18 modules, among which six modules with a total of 4270 genes were highly correlated with SCI and EN300 traits. Five hundred and eleven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) belonged to the six key modules. Through KEGG mapping, GO enrichment, and Cytoscape network analysis, nine Hub genes were tightly associated with SCI and EN300. The up-regulated genes were CCR2, CCR8, CD40LG, IL18RAP, INHBA, and P2RY13, while the down-regulated genes were ABCA13, ADCY2, and GRM1. Co-analyses with the results of comparisons between the BG subgroups revealed that the expression of solute carrier (SLC) proteins and ABC transporters were highly related to eggshell color, while cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions were key pathways affecting egg production. The expression of extracellular cytokines and membrane receptors were significantly up-regulated in low-yield chickens. The candidate DEGs and pathways found in the study will assist in clarifying the molecular mechanisms affecting shell color and egg production, and improve the breeding of blue-green eggshell chickens.

Characterization and Evaluation of Taihe Black-Boned Silky Fowl Eggs Based on Physical Properties, Nutritive Values, and Flavor Profiles.

Taihe black-boned silky fowl (TS) is a native chicken breed in China with more than 2000 years of history. The present study aimed to characterize and evaluate the physical, nutritional, and flavor properties of TS eggs with a comparison to two other commercial breeds. Eggs from TS (n = 60) crossbred black-boned silky fowl (CB, n = 60) and Hy-line Brown (HL, n = 60) were used for physicochemical analysis. The evaluation system was divided into four parts based on nutrient and flavor profiles: protein and amino acids, lipids and fatty acids, mineral elements, and flavor-related amino acids and volatile compounds. Results showed that TS eggs were typically associated with the lowest egg weight and the highest yolk color, as compared with CB and HL eggs. No differences were found in crude protein, crude fat, triglycerides, and cholesterol content between eggs from the different breeds, but these eggs were distinct in terms of the amino acid, fatty acid, and volatile flavor compound profiles. Moreover, the differences in amino acid and fatty acid profiles might contribute to the specific flavor of TS eggs. Evaluation results indicated that TS egg whites may be suitable as a protein source for premature infants and young children under three years old and TS egg yolks could be considered a beneficial dietary lipid source due to their potential anti-cardiovascular properties. Additionally, TS whole eggs could serve as a valuable source of selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), and phosphorus (P) for adults aged 18 to 65. However, TS and CB eggs showed inferior Haugh units, eggshell quality, and essential amino acid compositions for older children, adolescents, and adults. These findings provide a better insight into the health benefits of TS eggs and contribute to the breeding and nutrition regulation of TS breeds.

Physicochemical and Structural Validation of Myxovirus Resistance 1 (Mx1) Protein of Three Strains of the Nigerian Indigenous (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Gallus Gallus domesticus&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) and Exotic Chickens

This research was conducted on three strains of Nigerian Indigenous (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;gallus gallus domesticus&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) and Noiler (exotic) chickens. It examined the physicochemical and structural validation of Myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx1) protein on the three strains of Nigerian indigenous (naked neck, frizzle feather, normal feather) and noiler (exotic) chickens and also the prediction of the Physicochemical Analysis of protein. Nucleotide sequence were retrieved from National Center for Bio-Technology Information (NCBI) database and subjected to multiple sequence alignment, prediction of the physicochemical analysis of protein was done in the ProtParam web server. Modeling of 3D structural validation, Swiss modeling and Statistical analysis were all carried out. Software was used to align the sequences to find any Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPS). The result of physicochemical analysis showed that the properties of the Mx1 protein fell within accepted threshold and predicted that the proteins were generally related. To validate the structure obtained from modeling, the obtained PDB files were ran on the Pro-check validation server and obtained Errat and Ramachandran plots. The study elucidates the unique features and potential functional implications of Mx1 protein across different strains of Nigerian indigenous and exotic chickens. This knowledge can inform the development of strategies to improve disease resistance in local chicken populations through selective breeding or genetic manipulation. Comparing the Mx1 protein among different strains of Nigerian indigenous chickens can reveal evolutionary adaptations and provide valuable information for understanding the molecular basis of immune defense mechanisms in poultry. Understanding the physicochemical properties and structural dynamics of Mx1 protein contributes to the broader understanding of innate immune responses in indigenous chicken breeds, offering insights into their disease resistance and adaptation mechanisms.

Association of Ovocalyxin-32 Gene Variants with Egg Quality Traits in Indigenous Chicken Breeds.

This study sought to evaluate the genetic variations of the ovocalyxin-32 gene and its association with egg quality traits in indigenous chicken populations, focusing on exons 1 and 6. Genotype frequencies of SNPs (G/T and A/G) within these exons were assessed for their conformity to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) across several strains. While most strains exhibited close adherence to HWE expectations, some like light-brown and gray strains indicated substantial discrepancies, particularly for the TT genotype, which points towards the possible effects of genetic drift as well as selection pressures. This study also analyzed the influence of such SNPs on egg quality parameters. A thinner eggshell, reduced shell weight, and decreased breaking strength were associated with the G/T SNP in exon 1, suggesting a likely negative effect on egg quality in T allele carriers. Conversely, the AG genotype displayed better performance in shell thickness, weight and egg weight in the A/G SNP in exon 1, whilst yolk height was best improved by the AA genotype compared to breaking strength. For instance, in exon 6, the A/G SNP enhanced the shell and yolk quality among AG genotypes, while the CC genotype resulted in better eggshell characteristics with enlarged yolks because the C/T SNP was linked. Nonetheless, there were no significant deviations from the HWE despite these associations, which suggested that most breeds had a stable genetic background. Further, considering SNPs' additive and dominant effects in this research, it was indicated that additive effects account for phenotypic expressions given by the G/T SNP located at exon 1. In contrast, significant additive and dominant effects were observed under the A/G SNP situated at the exon. Generally, it therefore could be concluded from this study that specific SNPs within the ovocalyxin-32 gene may act as good markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS) that can improve desired characteristics-such as those of egg quality-in indigenous chicken breeds. This study demonstrated that both additive and dominance effects must be taken into account when performing genetic analyses, thereby emphasizing the complexity of phenotypic variation caused by genetic mechanisms in native chicken races.

Genome of Russian Snow-White Chicken Reveals Genetic Features Associated with Adaptations to Cold and Diseases.

Russian Snow White (RSW) chickens are characterized by high egg production, extreme resistance to low temperatures, disease resistance, and by the snow-white color of the day-old chicks. Studying the genome of this unique chicken breed will reveal its evolutionary history and help to understand the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying the unique characteristics of this breed, which will open new breeding opportunities and support future studies. We have sequenced and made a de novo assembly of the whole RSW genome using deep sequencing (250×) by the short reads. The genome consists of 40 chromosomes with a total length of 1.1 billion nucleotide pairs. Phylogenetic analysis placed the RSW near the White Leghorn, Fayoumi, and Houdan breeds. Comparison with other chicken breeds revealed a wide pool of mutations unique to the RSW. The functional annotation of these mutations showed the adaptation of genes associated with the development of the nervous system, thermoreceptors, purine receptors, and the TGF-beta pathway, probably caused by selection for low temperatures. We also found adaptation of the immune system genes, likely driven by selection for resistance to viral diseases. Integration with previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggested several causal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Specifically, we identified an RSW-specific missense mutation in the RALYL gene, presumably causing the snow-white color of the day-old chicks, and an RSW-specific missense mutation in the TLL1 gene, presumably affecting the egg weight.

Trends in genome diversity of small populations under a conservation program: a case study of two French chicken breeds

Trends in genome diversity of small populations under a conservation program: a case study of two French chicken breeds

SFMBT2 regulates plumage color via serum metabolites in Chinese Anyi tile-like gray chickens

Plumage color is an important characteristic of chicken breeds, and molecular genetic research is significant for resource conservation and product quality control. Anyi tile-like gray chicken is a high-quality local chicken breed resource generated through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding in China. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plumage color formation in Anyi tile-like gray chickens remain unclear. In this study, nontargeted liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to identify serum metabolites associated with plumage color in 93 Anyi tile-like gray chickens, including 60 tile-like gray and 33 black chickens. Notably, 12 serum metabolites were significantly enriched in Anyi tile-like gray chickens, including deoxyuridine and inosine, which were the key biomarkers distinguishing tile-like gray chickens from black chickens. Additionally, nine serum metabolites were significantly enriched in black chickens. Moreover, we identified 225 significant SNPs (P < 9.71 × 10-8) on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 15, and 21 that were associated with deoxyuridine, inosine, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, and L-methionine S-oxide through metabolome genome-wide association studies (mGWAS). Importantly, chromosome 1 harbored a region, 172.79-kb, which was the most likely quantitative trait locus (QTL) interval. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that SFMBT2 was the only differentially expressed gene in the QTL interval, and its expression was correlated with the abundance of specific serum metabolites. Conclusively, SFMBT2-mediated changes in serum metabolites contribute to plumage color development in Anyi tile-like gray chicken. This study provides important insights into the interaction between serum metabolites and host genes, and offers a theoretical basis for the breeding of Anyi tile-like gray chickens.

Analysis of genetic diversity and genetic structure of indigenous chicken populations in Guizhou province based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism markers

Guizhou province in China is rich in indigenous chicken breeds, playing an essential role in the genetic improvement of modern chickens. Genetic diversity has decreased in recent decades due to accelerated breeding processes and changing conservation priorities. To determine the genetic diversity and population structure of Guizhou indigenous chicken breeds, we used 55K genotyping arrays to conduct population genetic analysis on 233 individuals from 8 Guizhou indigenous breeds and 263 individuals from 9 Guizhou indigenous chicken populations. We evaluated the genetic diversity parameter (heterozygosity, proportion of polymorphic markers, and nucleotide diversity), linkage disequilibrium (LD), population structure, and genetic differentiation (FST and genetics distance). Genetic diversity results indicated that the genetic diversity of chicken breeds in Guizhou province is relatively affluent. Among Guizhou breeds, Baiyi black-bone and Guizhou yellow chicken displayed the lowest genetic diversity, as the 2 breeds exhibit lower PN and heterozygosity, the extent of linkage disequilibrium is higher. According to the LD pattern, Guizhou indigenous breeds can be divided into 3 categories. Population structure analysis showed a certain degree of genetic differentiation among local chickens in Guizhou. We argue that Chishui black-bone and Puan black-bone chickens are 2 different geographical regional groups of the same breed. In principal component analysis, individuals from the 2 groups clustered together, and the phylogenetic tree results showed that the 2 groups clustered together to form a branch independent of other breeds, and they displayed an identical pattern of ancestral lineage composition. The research results will provide a reference for protecting local chicken genetic resources in Guizhou Province and promote the protection and utilization of genetic resources.

Influence of age at slaughter and sex on carcass characteristics, meat quality, fatty acids, and ribonucleotides in white-tailed yellow native chickens.

This study investigated the effects of age and sex on carcass and meat characteristics of one of Thailand's major indigenous chicken breeds, the white-tailed yellow native chicken (NC). A total of 120 one-day-old NC (60 males and 60 females) were raised, and harvested at either 16, 20 or 24 weeks. The results showed that body, carcass, breast and fillet weights did not differ (P > 0.05) between 16- and 20-week-old NC, but were lower (P < 0.05) than those of 24-week-old NC. Male NC had higher (P < 0.05) body, carcass, wing, back and thigh weights than female NC. Neither sex nor age affected muscle pH, sarcomere length, redness and yellowness, guanosine monophosphate, and hypoxanthine. The interaction between age and sex was significant (P < 0.05) for %dressing, %leg, L*, C14:1, C18:1n9 and C20:4n6. Shear force was lower in 16-week-old NC (P < 0.05). The 24-week-old NC had lower (P < 0.05) C13:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:2n6t, C20:4n6, C22:6n-3, intramuscular fat and inosine 5'-monophosphate levels and higher (P < 0.05) C18:2n6c, C18:3n-3 and C20:3n-6 levels than the 16- and 20-week-old NC. Male NC had higher (P < 0.05) C13:0-, C14:0-, C18:2n6t-, C20:3n-6- and lower inosine levels than female NC. In conclusion, these data highlight age- and sex-specific differences in carcass and meat quality of NC and provide relevant information to support consumer-oriented decisions on the production, processing and nutritional value of NC.

Carbohydrase enzyme and polyethylene glycol altered the chemical composition, growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility of Prosopis juliflora pods meal diets fed to Boschveld chicken breed

This study was designed to evaluate how treating Prosopis juliflora pods with polyethylene glycol and carbohydrase enzyme will affect its chemical composition and how the inclusion of treated P. juliflora pods in Boschveld chicken's diets will affect growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Before P. juliflora pods were administrated to the diets, they were pre-treated with enzyme, PEG and a combination of both and analysed for their nutrient content. Five diets, namely PJPM1: commercial standard pullet grower diet as a control; PJPM2: commercial standard grower diet with untreated 30 % of P. juliflora; PJPM3: commercial standard grower diet with PEG treated 30 % of P. juliflora; PJPM4: commercial standard grower diet with carbohydrase enzyme treated 30 % of P. juliflora; PJPM5: commercial standard grower diet with PEG and carbohydrase enzyme treated 30 % of P. juliflora. A total of 300 six-week-old Boschveld chickens were used in this trial. After 42 days of feeding trial, three Boschveld chickens per replicate (n = 90) were randomly selected for the determination of nutrient digestibility. Results on the chemical composition of raw P. juliflora pods meal, pre-treated with enzyme, PEG and combination of both show significant difference (P <0.05) in CP, Ash, NDF, CF, EE, Hemicellulose, NFC and NFE. Only overall feed intake shows significant different (P <0.05) in all dietary treatments and all the measured parameters of nutrient digestibility. Enzyme and PEG positively contribute to the chemical composition, growth performance, and nutrient digestibility of diets containing P. juliflora fed to Boschveld chickens.

Genetic characterisation of a recovered Italian chicken breed: the Millefiori Piemontese

The recent rediscovering of the Millefiori Piemontese breed, previously considered as extinct, has led to its genetic characterisation: establishing the basis for its recovery and preservation. This study describes the morpho-biometric traits and compares the genetic variability of the Millefiori Piemontese breed with that of other local chicken breeds using 26 microsatellite markers. A subset of 14 markers was used to compare the genetic variation of the Millefiori Piemontese breed with that of two other Piedmontese chicken breeds (Bionda Piemontese and Bianca di Saluzzo) as well as 17 Italian and 2 commercial hybrids, whose genetic variability has already been investigated. The present study confirmed the sexual dimorphism and assessed the genetic variability of the Millefiori Piemontese in terms of number of alleles/locus (Na = 4), the effective number of alleles (Nea = 3), observed (Ho = 0.56) and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.53), self-coancestry (IB = 0.65), potential extinction risk (ERI = 2), and its contribution to the Italian poultry biodiversity (GDT = −0.60). The results indicate that, despite its small population size (Ne = 56), the Millefiori Piemontese population exhibits significant genetic diversity, making it a valuable resource for breeding programs focused on preserving the breed and safeguarding its biodiversity. This study is the first to investigate the genetic variability of the Millefiori Piemontese breed and compare it with other local poultry breeds. The findings highlight the genetic uniqueness of the Millefiori breed and its significant contribution to the biodiversity of chickens in Piedmont and Italy, emphasising the importance of its conservation.

Detection and prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. in Local chicken breeds in Al Muthanna province of Iraq

Leucocytozoon species are avian haemoparasites with economic impacts on poultry production. The present study investigates the presence of Leucocytozoon in chickens of Al Muthanna province, Iraq. Eighty one blood samples were collected from chickens in Samawah, Rumaitha, Warkaa, and Kidhre regions to examine the prevalence of Leucocytozoon. An infection rate of 6.1% was found among chicken breeds. The study highlighted that the main symptoms of infection were decreased egg production, anemia, and loss of appetite. Notably, infection was more prevalent in the Rumaitha, Khidr and Samawah regions, while no cases were reported in Warka. Treatment methods included primaquine and pyrimethamine alongside care to manage the condition effectively. It is important to mention that the observed prevalence rate in chickens was lower compared to studies on birds in Iraq, where an overall blood parasite prevalence of 15% was documented. This difference could be attributed to factors like habitat variations, vector presence, or differing susceptibility among bird species. Our suggestion for future work can be the application of new programs for diagnosing and controlling parasites in chickens.

On-farm multi-location testing of synthetic dual-purpose chicken breed (DZ-white) at Lowland area of Kaffa Zone of Ethiopia

A study evaluated synthetic dual purpose DZ-white’s adaptability and production performance in lowland agro-ecology. A total of 900 day-old chicks were distributed to fifteen (15) participant farmers (sixty chicks per farmer). Vaccines for Newcastle and Gumboro were administered as per veterinarian recommendations. Initially, chicks were supplemented with commercial feed and gradually shifted to locally available feed resources. Data on body weight, age at first egg, egg production, egg weight and farmers’ perception were recorded. On average, the adult male and female chicken body weight recorded at 20 weeks of age were 331.2 grams and 273.3 grams per chicken, respectively. Moreover, in the present study, the adult male and female chicken body weight recorded at 20 weeks of age were 1541.3 grams and 476.9 grams per chicken, respectively. The result also showed that an average egg weight at initial laying stage 5%, 50% and peak production stage were 44.09 grams, 48.33 grams and 55.45 grams, respectively. In the current study, chickens produced 296 eggs annually. Based on the adaptability, production performance and social acceptance, participant farmers preferred synthetic dual purpose DZ- white chicken breed to commonly used local and exotic breeds. As a result of their moderate growth and production performance, scavenging ability and social acceptance, demonstration and scaling up of the breed in the rural smallholder production system are highly recommended.

Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality and Organoleptic Indices of Crossbred Progenies from Meat-Type Chicken and Nigerian Indigenous Chicken Breeds

Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality and Organoleptic Indices of Crossbred Progenies from Meat-Type Chicken and Nigerian Indigenous Chicken Breeds