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Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken ecotypes in the north Gondar zone, Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2014

Addis Getu*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Woldia University
Kefyalew Alemayehu
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Technology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University
Zewdu Wuletaw
Affiliation:
Sustainable Land Management Organization (SLM), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
*
Correspondence to: Addis Getu, Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Woldia University. email: addisgetu2002@yahoo.com
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Summary

An exploratory field survey was conducted in north Gondar zone, Ethiopia to identify and characterize the local chicken ecotypes. Seven qualitative and 12 quantitative traits from 450 chickens were considered. Chicken ecotypes such as Naked neck, Gasgie and Gugut from Quara, Alefa and Tache Armacheho districts were identified, respectively. Morphometric measurements indicated that the body weight and body length of the Naked neck and the Gasgie ecotypes were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the Gugut ecotypes except in shank circumstances (circumference). Sex and ecotypes were significant (P < 0.01) sources of variation for both body weights and linear body measurements. The relationship of body weight with other body measurements for all ecotypes in both sexes was highly significant (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). Some traits like the spur length (r = 0.64, P < 0.01) for males and (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) for females of the Naked neck chickens are significantly correlated with body weight. Therefore, highly correlated traits are the basic indicators for the estimation of the continuous prediction of body weight of chicken. Identification and characterization of new genetic resources should be employed routinely to validate and investigate the resources in the country.

Résumé

En la zona Norte del distrito de Gondar (Etiopía), se llevó a cabo un estudio exploratorio de campo con el que se pretendía identificar y caracterizar los ecotipos locales de gallina. Se consideraron siete parámetros cualitativos y doce cuantitativos en una muestra de 450 gallinas. Se identificaron ecotipos de gallina tales como Cuello Pelado, Gasgie y Gugut en los distritos de Quara, Alefa y Tache Armacheho, respectivamente. Las medidas morfométricas indicaron que el peso y la longitud corporal de los ecotipos Cuello Pelado y Gasgie eran significativamente (P < 0.01) mayores que los del ecotipo Gugut, con la excepción de la circunferencia de los tarsos. El sexo y el ecotipo resultaron ser fuentes significativas (P < 0.01) de variación, tanto para el peso corporal como para las medidas lineales del cuerpo. Para todos los ecotipos y en ambos sexos, el peso corporal estuvo relacionado, de manera muy significativa (r = 0.67, P < 0.01), con el resto de medidas corporales. En las gallinas de Cuello Pelado, algunos rasgos, como la longitud de los espolones (r = 0.64, P < 0.01 en los machos y r = 0.59, P < 0.01 en las hembras), presentaron una correlación significativa con el peso corporal. Por tanto, los parámetros altamente correlacionados son indicadores básicos para estimar la evolución del peso corporal de las gallinas. La identificación y caracterización de nuevos recursos genéticos debería realizarse de manera rutinaria para validar y conocer los recursos presentes en el país.

Resumen

Dans la zone Nord du district de Gondar (Éthiopie), une étude d'exploration a été menée sur le terrain pour identifier et caractériser les écotypes locaux de poule. Sept traits qualitatifs et douze quantitatifs ont été évalués sur un total de 450 poules. Des écotypes tels que Cou Nu, Gasgie et Gugut ont été identifiés dans les districts de Quara, Alefa et Tache Armacheho, respectivement. Les mesures morphométriques ont indiqué que le poids corporel et la longueur du corps étaient significativement (P < 0.01) plus élevés chez les écotypes Cou Nu et Gasgie que chez l'écotype Gugut, exception faite du tour des tarses. Le sexe et l'écotype ont été des sources de variation significatives (P < 0.01) aussi bien pour le poids corporel que pour les mesures linéaires du corps. Pour tous les écotypes et chez les deux sexes, des corrélations hautement significatives (r = 0.67, P < 0.01) ont été mises en évidence entre le poids du corps et les autres mesures corporelles. Chez l'écotype Cou Nu, certains traits, tels que la longueur des ergots, ont été significativement corrélés avec le poids corporel, tant pour les mâles (r = 0.64, P < 0.01) que pour les femelles (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). Ainsi, les traits hautement corrélés sont des indicateurs de base pour estimer l'évolution du poids corporel des poules. L'identification et la caractérisation de nouvelles ressources génétiques devraient se faire systématiquement pour valider et connaître les ressources présentes dans le pays.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2014 

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