Phenotypic characterization and diversity analysis of traditional chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L.) in Western Visayas, Philippines / Jaime Cabarles, Jr.; Angel L. Lambio, chair, advisory committee.

Date

10-2011

Abstract

Traditional chickens are chickens which lack comprehensive information about their breeds. Thus, this study was conducted to phenotypically characterize and analyze their diversity in Western Visayas. Purposive sampling was done to survey 270 raisers and characterized 810 chickens. These numbers were equally divided in provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis, and non-parametric test. Results showed that roosters having red plumage with various shades of laced color pattern, red earlobes, and yellow shank; and, hens having brown plumage with black penciling color pattern, red with white earlobes, and slate shank were dominant in the region. Raisers observed that these chickens had tolerance to warmer environment, low feed quality, limited supplemental feeds, and parasites but prone to colder environment and occurrences of NCD and CRD. Chickens in Capiz had highest (P,0.05) clutch size; Antique had longest (P< 0.05) clutch interval and consistently highest (P< 0.01) in survival rate; Aklan had highest (P,0.05) hatching percentage; Guimaras had heaviest (P,0.01) egg, one day old, slaughter, and adult live weight; Iloilo had highest (P,0.01) yolk and albumen ratio and heaviest (P< 0.01) body weight at eight and twelve weeks old; and Negros Occidental had youngest (P< 0.01) slaughter age. Chickens raised in backyard production systems had higher (P< 0.05) migration rate and lower (P,0.05) genetic differentiation. Positive correlation (r=0.150; P,0.-5) was observed between altitude and genetic differentiation. It was also found that traditional chickens were grouped into Jolo and Bisaya with the latter further diverged to Bisaya cluster I and II. Jolo had heaviest (P< 0.01) body weight but is similar to Bisaya II in terms of egg weight, head shape and phenotypic distance. Higher phenotypic diversity was detected in terms of plumage color and pattern, iris color and shank color; but, were nearly homogeneous in feather morphology and distribution, head and breasts shapes, and skeletal variants. The prerequisites in raising traditional chickens were monthly income, household size, farmland size, and distance from provincial government center. Majority of these chickens were in free-range at agro-forestry livestock production system with provisions of housing and supplemental feeds. They had free access to naturally occurring feed stuffs but had never been treated against infections. A hen could lay 49.78±0.98 eggs per year with 87.47±0.98% hatching and only 40.15±1.27% could reach a slaughter/market weight of 869.19±12.37 grams. About 2.80-16.20% of the variations in these perfromances were due to accumulated linear effects of natural environment. Majority of the produced chickens were for household consumption. Traditional chicken contributed 14.67±0.69% to household expenditure as accounted by raisers.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Angel L. Lambio

Committee Member

Severino S. Capitan, Renato SA. Vega, Merlyn S. Mendioro

Language

English

LC Subject

Chickens, Animal science Animal and Dairy Science Cluster

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 2011 A5 C33

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