Mathematical models to describe the growth curves of Vietnamese Ri chicken

Ri chicken is the most popular backyard chicken breed in Vietnam, but little is known about the growth curve of this breed. This study compared the performances of models with three parameters (Gompertz, Brody, and Logistic) and models containing four parameters (Richards, Bridges, and Janoschek) for describing the growth of Ri chicken. The bodyweight of Ri chicken was recorded weekly from week 1 to week 19. Growth models were fitted using minpack.lm package in R software and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and root mean square error (RMSE) were used for model comparison. Based on these criteria, the models having four parameters showed better performance than the ones with three parameters, and the Richards model was the best one for males and females. The lowest and highest value of asymmetric weights (α) were obtained by Bridges and Brody models for each of sexes, respectively. Age and weight estimated by the Richard model were 8.46 and 7.51 weeks and 696.88 and 487.58 g for males and for females, respectively. Differences in the growth curves were observed between males and female chicken. Overall, the results suggested using the Richards model for describing the growth curve of Ri chickens. Further studies on the genetics and genomics of the obtained growth parameters are required before using them for the genetic improvement of Ri chickens.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Poultry Chicken Breeds Choice in Wolaita, Ethiopia

To achieve increased productivity in poultry chicken, households’ choice of poultry chicken breeds should be maintained according to their desirability. This study aimed at identifying determinants of rural households’ choice of poultry chicken breeds keeping in Wolaita, Ethiopia. Multistage sampling techniques were used. First, Damot Pulasa district was selected purposively because of high poultry production potential, and then simple random sampling technique was used to select five kebeles and at third stage systematic random sampling was used to select 160 rural households. Data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric regression. Result showed that 54.37% of households owned indigenous poultry chicken breed, 38% owned exotic poultry chicken breeds and 7.63% owned both indigenous and exotic poultry chicken breeds. Households attached socioeconomic, demographic and institutional factors and breed related traits to their poultry chicken breed choices. Indigenous chicken breeds were preferred in mothering ability, disease resistance, scavenging ability; taste of meat and egg traits whereas exotic poultry chicken breeds were preferred for growth rate, productivity and total eggs laid per chicken per year. In addition, Multinomial Logit model result indicated that age and education level of household head determined poultry chicken breed choice. To be effective and efficient any poultry chicken breed promotion effort in the future should consider these particular preferences of households.

PSVI-14 Characteristic of hybrid chicken derived from crossing of Ogye and white leghorn

Ogye, an indigenous Korean chicken breed has entirely black external features and internal organs. White Leghron, an transboundary breed has white color features as opposed to Ogye. We make crossbreed (Ogye x White Leghorn) to investigate how the phenotype appeared in F1. In F0, 5 females and 1 male were selected for each parental type; 1) Ogye(♂) x White leghorn(♀), 2) White leghron(♂) x Ogye(♀). We A total of 321 individuals of F1 were made through artificial insemination. We measured body weights at birth, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 32 weeks of age. In 1) type females, the average of body weight at each period was 39.04±0.32, 613.18±6.86, 1149.37±7.76, 1463.97±13.25, 1718.02±14.83 respectively. In 2 type females, that was 30.57±0.21, 543.19±7.54, 1069.63±12.92, 1410.06±10.80, 1527.53±13.73. The P-value values for each period were less than 0.05. In 1) type males, the average of body weight at each period was 39.18±0.34, 744.70±7.84, 1579.39±15.76, 2014.63±19.15, 2310.89±20.58. In 2 type females, that was 30.71±0.24, 683.75±9.51, 1419.79±15.76, 1800.00±18.88, 2064.79±19.68. The P-value values for each period were also less than 0.05. In the case of feather color, it was generally white, but black spots appeared only in females produced in type 1). Comb and beak color was generally also red, but black appeared only in in females produced in type 1). From these results, it can be estimated that paternal factors such as weight and appearance are greatly affected, and we plan to investigate the genetic patterns of each trait through F2 construction in the future.

Characterization of 24bp Insertion Polymorphism of Prolactin Gene and its Association with Quantitative Traits in Tellicherry Native Chicken Breed

Background: Over many centuries, the conventional methods of poultry breeding is based on the phenotypic selection of the birds with superior trait in a particular population. Prolactin is a physiological candidate gene that has significant effects on production traits in poultry. The objective of this study was to investigate 24bp insertion (I) polymorphism of prolactin gene and its association with quantitative traits in Tellicherry native chicken. Methods: A total of 200 blood samples were collected from the randomly selected birds of All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry Breeding, Mannuthy. The isolated DNA samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using specific set of primers to amplify the 24bp insertion polymorphism. PCR amplicons were sequenced to study the polymorphism at nucleotide level. Result: PCR amplification revealed the presence of a specific DNA fragment with 130/154bp contained 24bp insertion polymorphism. Based on the polymorphic patterns birds were designated with three genotypes as II, ID and DD. The frequency of I (0.6975) allele was found higher than D (0.3025) allele. Our experimental results revealed that 24bp insertion polymorphism of prolactin did not have a significant association with production traits viz, age at sexual maturity, egg weight and egg number in Tellicherry native chicken.

Age Dependent Growth Performance and Blood Profiling of Broiler Chicken Reared at High Altitude

Background: Leh-Ladakh is situated at an altitude of 3500 m above mean sea level which poses many climatic challenges to the dwellers and animals of this region including the chickens. Chicken rearing is a huge challenge keeping in view the fact that Leh does not have a native chicken breed of its own that is adapted to this conditions. It is necessary to have an high-altitude adapted chicken breed in order to meet the demands of fresh chicken meat and eggs for the locals and the armies deployed in Ladakh. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate growth performances like body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), hematological and serum-biochemical parameters of broiler chicken reared at high altitude. Methods: During the experimental period the birds were fed according to the rations scale formulated by DIHAR for broiler chicken at high altitude. Body weight was taken weekly up-to 28th week and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated up to 7th week. Blood samples were collected on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th week of the birds age. Whole blood was used to study different hematological parameters while serum sample was used to study various biochemical parameters. Result: It was found that broiler reared at high altitude attained 701.3 g at 7th week of their age whereas lowlander broilers are known to attain the equivalent weight by 4th 5th week. Mean FCR by 7th week was found to be 2.38. Among various hematological parameters, hemoglobin (%) increased with the age of birds. Red blood cell also increased with the age. Drop in hematocrit (%) and mean corpuscular volume (fl) value was observed at 14th week and then it increased by 21st and 28th week of age. There was increase in value of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration at 14th and 21st week. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate value also dropped with age. Among biochemical parameters; calcium, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid was observed to increase with age of the birds whereas triglyceride decreased from 7th week to 28th, thus indicating that the birds are adapting to the environmental condition of high altitude.

Morphological and morphometric characterization of Bulgarian local chicken breed – Southwest Bulgarian dzinka

The poultry genetic resources of the Republic of Bulgaria cover mostly the domestic chicken and domestic pigeon species. A number of introduced breeds of chickens are bred in the country, but also some local primitive and decorative breeds. Southwest Bulgarian dzinka is one of the three bantam chicken breeds that originated in Bulgaria. The aim of the study is to make a complete exterior characteristic of the Southwest Bulgarian dzinka breed. A phenotypic evaluation of a total of 29 roosters and 61 hens was performed. The mean body weight of roosters was 620.7±18.9 g and 492.7±8.42 g of hens. The birds are characterized by the presence of a small rose comb, beard and well feathered legs. The most common color of the plumage is spangled. The legs and beak are light in color, except for the black color of the plumage. The eyes are orange-red. The calculated Index for massiveness, Index of compactness and Index of long-leggedness for roosters were 5.35±0.13, 218.57±4.15 and 46.36±1.83, respectively, and 4.62±0.09, 214.62±3.60, 41.03±1.25 for hens.