Morphologic and Morphometric Study of Non-desript Chickens (Gallus gallus) in Kapangan

Abstract

The study was conducted to properly document the morphometric measurements and the morphologic study of native chickens in Kapangan, Benguet. Generally, the study was conducted to determine the morphometric and morphologic characteristics of non-descript chickens in Kapangan, Benguet. Specifically, it aimed to determine whether there is distinct and unrecognized chicken in Kapangan, Benguet and to validate breed identity and provide systematic description phenotypic among native chicken populations in the locality. This study was conducted at Kapangan, Benguet from February to April 2016. The samples were drawn from the eight barangays of Kapangan which are Taba-ao, Gadang, Cayapes, Sagubo, Paykek, Pungayan, Labueg and Datakan. A total of 536 non-descript chickens consisting of 303 hens and 233 roosters used in the study. The identified strains of native chickens include Banaba, Bolinao, Camarines, Darag, Labuyo and Paraoakan. However, there were some unidentified strains observed such as brown, black yellow, black white, grey, reddish gray and reddish white. The Paraoakan strain is dominant among the identified strains in Kapangan, Benguet. The rooster Paraoakan strain had normal feather morphology, normal feather distribution and plain plumage pattern with reddish black plumage color. In terms of skin color, white red is dominant followed by white and yellow. There shank colors are yellow which is dominant followed by white, black, green and yellow black. Their eye colors observed are orange, yellow, brown and pearl. It has dominant pea comb type followed by cushion and buttercup with an earlobe color of red. The comb sizes observed are medium and large. The Paraoakan hens had normal feather morphology and normal feather distribution with plain plumage pattern. It has a plumage color of black. In terms of skin color, white is dominant followed by white red and yellow. There shank colors observed are black, yellow, green, white and yellow black. The earlobe colors are red and red white. On the other hand, there eye colors observed are orange, yellow, brown and pearl. The hens had pea comb types with small comb sizes. The results also show that the Banaba hens weigh about 1.56 kg, 36.68 cm body length, 5.68 cm shank length, 41.13 cm wing span and 27.93 cm chest circumference. Bolinao hens weigh about 1.54 kg with a body length of 36.75 cm, 5.28 cm shank length, and 41.40 cm wing span and chest circumference of 28.39 cm. In hens, the body weight is about 1.60 kg with a body length of 37.04 cm, 6.43 cm shank length, and 41.77 cm wing span and chest circumference of 29.66 cm. The Camarines roosters had a body weight, body length, shank length, wing span and chest circumference of 2.23kg, 42.93 cm, 7.13 cm, 48.47 cm and 30.26 cm, respectively. In hens, it has a body weight of 1.53, body length of 38.08 cm, shank length of 5.63 cm, wingspan 42.42 cm and chest circumference of 29 cm. Darag hens had a body weight, body length, shank length, wing span and chest circumference of 2.47 kg, 39.83 cm, 2.23 cm, 44.33 cm and 30.67 cm, respectively. The Labuyo roosters had a body weight of 0.95 kg, 32.44 body lengths, 4.79 cm shank length, 36.22 cm wingspan and 21.14 cm chest circumference. The Paraoakan had a body weight, body length, shank length, wing span and chest circumference of 2.32 kg, 43.03 cm, 7.23 cm, 48.84 cm and 31.29 cm, respectively. On the other hand, hens had a body weight of 1.62 kg, 37.81 cm body length, 5.62 cm shank length, 42.32 cm wing span and 28.64 cm chest circumference. Values for morphometric characteristics such as body weight, body length, shank length, and wing span and chest circumference appeared to be higher in roosters than in hens. The unidentified gray strain of hens had a body weight of 1.62 kg, body length of 38.13 cm, shank length of 5.79 cm, wingspan of 42.02 cm and chest circumference of 28.93 cm. The unidentified black yellow strain of roosters had a body weight of 2.42 kg, body length of 43.42 cm, shank length of 7.15 cm, wingspan of 49.45 cm and chest circumference of 30.91 cm. On the other hand, hens had a body weight, body length, shank length, wingspan and chest circumference of 1.55 kg, 39.00 cm, 5.75 cm, 41.50 cm and 28.50 cm, respectively. The unidentified black white strain of hens had a body weight, body length, shank length, wingspan and circumference of 1.58 kg, 37.11 cm, 5.60 cm, 42.05 cm and 28.57 cm, respectively. In terms of the unidentified brown strain roosters, it has a body weight, body length, shank length, wingspan and chest circumference of 2.08 kg, 41.5 cm, 7.55 cm, 46.50 cm and 30.00 cm, respectively. The unidentified reddish grey strain roosters had a body weight, body length, shank length, wingspan and chest circumference of 2.41 kg, 39.61 cm, 7.29 cm, 45.62 cm and 31.86 cm, respectively. The unidentified reddish white strain roosters had a body weight, body length, shank length, wingspan and chest circumference of 0.95 kg, 32.44 cm, 4.79 cm, 36.22 cm and 21.14 cm, respectively. As the body weights had a greater value, the body measurements had also a greater value measured. In terms of physical characteristics, strains had different observed morphologic characteristics. It is concluded that chicken population in Kapangan, Benguet physically vary in terms of morphologic and morphometric characteristics. From the result of the study, it is suggested that further study will be conducted to validate breed identity and to ensure and provide systematic description of morphometric and morphologic characteristics of native chickens in Kapangan, Benguet.