Morphologic and Morphometric Study of Non-descript native chickens (Gallus gallus) in Bokod, Benguet

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine whether there is distinct and unrecognized chicken in Bokod, Benguet and validate strain identity and provide systematic descriptions of phenotype among identified native chicken population. A total of 100 male and 300 female non-descript chickens in ten barangays of Bokod, Benguet were sampled in the study which was conducted from February to March 2016. The morphometric characteristics taken were body weight, body length, wing span, shank, length, and chest circumference. Also morphologic characters were observed such as feather morphology, feather distribution, plumage color, skin color, shank color, earlobe color, comb, types comb size and eye color. The study shows that the 6 established strains and 3 unrecognized native chickens were observed in Bokod, Benguet. The Banaba (36.82%), Bolinao (14.68%), Camarines (12.6%), Labuyo (8.46%), Darag (6.47%) and Paraoakan(5.22%) and Talisayin (6.47%), Lasak (5.22%) and Itim (3.10%) for the unrecognized native chicken. The predominant native chickens found were Talisayin roosters and Banaba hens. Of the 26 Talisayin roosters and 138 identified Banaba hens, it was observed that all have normal (100%) feather morphology. Majority have normal feather distribution except for one in Banaba hens that have muffs and beared. Majority on the plumage pattern of both roosters and hens are plain while others have mottled, barred and laced. Red with varying shades was dominant in roosters in terms of plumage color while brown with varying shades in hens. Majority of the skin and shank color in both sexes are Yellow and others have orange, gray, green, white, blue and yellow green. Majority of the roosters and hens have red earlobes. Moreover, single comb type was chiefly observed for the hens and roosters that are small in size in hens and medium in roosters were observed for the comb sizes. Orange eye color was predominantly observed in both rooster and hen in the area. On the other hand morphometric measurements of the Darag and Paraoakan which registered the heaviest weights were as follows, the average body weight of Darag was 2.53 ± 0.46kgs, 43.14 ± 4.41cm in body length, 11 ± 1.29cm in shank length, 40 ± 0.58cm in wing span and 16.14 ± 0.59 in chest circumference. Also, the average body weight of Paraoakan was 1.89 ± 0.59kgs, 38. 68 ± 4.74cm in body length, 9.88 ± 0.72cm in shank length, 37 ± 1.79cm in wing span and 14.63 ± 1.67 in chest circumference.