Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken in Southern Karnataka, India

Gopinath, C.R., Murthy, H.N. Narasimha, Nagaraja, C.S. and Isloor, S. 2020. Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken in Southern Karnataka, India. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 55(1): 17–22.

Indian native chicken constitutes about 38% of total chicken and 21% to the total meat and egg production, with no genetic selection compare to commercial counterparts. Therefore, identification and characterization of non-descript indigenous chicken is needed. Present study was taken up in some southern districts of Karnataka. Hatching eggs procured from adjoining 180 villages of Chamarajanagar, Mysore and Mandya districts were hatched and reared separately under deep litter system with standard management. Phenotypic evaluation was performed on the basis of NBAGR guidelines at 20^th week of age. Average shank length of males was ranged from 82.98±0.94 to 92.61±0.26 mm, and in females it was 72.82±0.53 to 75.76±0.65 mm and there was a significant (P°0.05) difference between different district birds. Keel length in males was ranged from 75.58±0.87 to 83.06±0.24 mm, in female it ranged from 66.14±0.52 to 68.65 mm, and birds of Chamarajanagar district had significantly (P°0.05) longer keel length. The breast angle in male birds ranged from 84.38±0.46 to 85.21±0.28°, where as in female birds it ranged from 79.36±0.29 to 84.19±0.24, Significantly (P°0.05) wider breast angle was noticed in Mandya and Mysore district birds. In females, brown plumage followed by black was most, in males red plumage was most. The average body weight of cockerels at 20 weeks was ranged from 1250.00±28.58 to 1366.06±24.33g, in pullets it was from 997.77±22.30 to 1037.75±29.19g. The parameters studied revealed the different type of indigenous chicken available in selected districts of Karnataka.