Abstract:
Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken ecotypes was conducted in North
Wollo from January 2011 to May 2012 with the objectives of characterizing indigenous
chicken and their production system. Simultaneously, identification of development
intervention for improved utilization of chicken genetic resources was also identified. In
the first part of data collection, one focused group discussion per agro-ecological zones
was held. Then, administration of well-structured questionnaire and morphometric
measurement were employed. Measured quantitative traits of chicken among the three
altitudes were analyzed by linear model of SAS 2002 for male and female chickens
separately. Subsequently, mean value of each traits were compared using Tukey's mean
comparison method. Multivariate analysis of principal component analysis, canonical
discriminant, step-wise discriminant and clustering analysis was performed by SPSS 19.0
for male and female chicken ecotype separately. Nechi (17.6%), Tikur (12.6%) and Key
(l O.8%) plumage colour were found dominantly all over the study area. Findings of the
focus group discussion revealed that there were morphologically differences among
chickens of high altitude, mid altitude and low altitude study areas. Similarly, findings
from the semi-structured questioner revealed that indigenous chicken ecotypes are dualpurpose,
adapted to wide range of environments, and managed under traditional and
largely subsistent mode of production. The critical constraints of scavenging chicken
production were disease (60.13%) predators (20,59%) and feed shortage (19,28%).
Number of egg lay/clutch (37,91%) and plumage colour (37,58%) were the major
preferred trait by thefarmers in the study area. For qualitative and quantitative study, 715
sample chickens were recorded by category of agro-ecology. Linear measurements on six
traits were taken from 210 mature male and 305 mature female chickens. The overall
mean body weight of indigenous male and female chickens was 1500.97gm and
1253. 36gm respectively. The overall age at sexual maturity for male andfemale was 24.25
± 0.04 and 23.84 ± 0.05 weeks respectively. There was highly significant difference
(p<0.0001) in egg production/hen/clutch across altitudes. Based on linear model analysis
and result of focus group discussion, observed morphological variation and multivariate
analysis, three chicken population found in North Wollo was categorized in to high
altitude, mid altitude and low altitude chicken ecotypes. Egg production, meat yield and
diseases resistance were trait preferred byfarmers to be improved. By understanding flock
size, production system, trait preference offarmers, traditional or cross breeding program
would be implemented to improve the productivity of indigenous chicken.