PHENOTYPIC AND PRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF ASEEL CHICKEN

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Research and Farm-Based Campus, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram. The aim of this study was to observe the phenotypic characteristics and morphometric measurements of Aseel chickens in Bangladesh. There were five birds considered for the study. Aseel birds were characterized by multicolored plumage (predominantly red, greenish metallic sheen, ash, Greenish and greenish black). No shank feathering was found in the chickens but the shank color varies from pinkish-yellow to yellowish-black. The earlobe color varies from light pink to reddish pink and is small in size. The pea-type comb was found in males and the strawberry-type in females. The color of the skin was whitish and the color of the eyes was yellowish. Spurs were observed only in males and the number of toes was four in all chickens. Wattles were absent in females but pinkishcolored wattles were found in males. The color of the beak varies from blackish white to blackish yellow. There was no sickle feather in females but the males had a greenish metallic sheen sickle feather. Cocks were heavier; the average live weight of cocks was 4.31±0.08 kg and that of hens was 2.55±0.32 kg. The average length of the radius/ulna was 11.90±0.10 cm in males and 10.00±0.30 cm in females. Keel length was 21.90±0.30 cm and 17.46±0.63 cm, respectively, in males and females. The average shank length was 13.30±0.30 cm and 10.13±0.13 cm, respectively, in adult males and adult females. Shank circumference was measured at 7.00±0.00 cm in males and 5.06±0.23 cm in females. Finally, this phenotypic characterization of Aseel chicken will give researchers baseline information for further study, planning any onward conservation and implementing strategies.