Phenotypic Characterization of Aseel Chicken of Bangladesh

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate phenotypic characteristics, morphometric measurements, reproduction and production performances of Aseel chicken of Bangladesh. The dominant feather color of neck/hackles was red in both males (56.14%) and females (54.16%) while the sickle feather color was mostly black in both chickens (71.93% vs. 54.17%). The predominant saddle and breast feather colors were red (40.35%) and black (64.91%), respectively, in male whereas most frequent observed color was pale brown in female (58.33 and 50.0%, respectively). The predominant feather color of wing bow and wing bay was found black (68.42 and 80.70%, respectively) in male but only pale brown color was observed in females (62.5 and 54.17%, respectively) for these two characters. Different phenotypic measurements such as the average shank length and cir- cumference were 12.79 ± 0.13 and 7.8 ± 0.08 cm, respectively, in male and 10.21 ± 0.25 and 5.81 ± 0.21 cm, respectively, in fe- male. Keel length was 14.39 ± 0.19 cm in male and 10.79 ± 0.23 cm in female. The average adult live weight in male was measured 3749.12 ± 83.44 g while in female it was 2062.50 ± 105.26 g. The age of 1st lay was found to be 28.86 weeks. Total number of eggs laid per year ranged between 24～48, number of clutch/hen/year varied from 2 to 4 and number of eggs/clutch/hen was found to be 10～12. The average live weight of Aseel chicken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 17 weeks of age were recorded as 31.14 ± 0.55, 48.63 ± 3.99, 116.57 ± 5.72, 138.40 ± 5.91, 212.88 ± 4.82, 361.00 ± 9.72, 577.50 ± 42.86, 743.75 ± 24.65, 1086.00 ± 26.02, 1402.00 ± 24.54 and 1432.00 ± 27.00 g respectively. Finally, this phenotypic characterization as well as productive and reproductive performances of Aseel chicken will give the baseline information to researcher for further study and for planning any on-ward conservation and implement strategy.