Assessment of Morphological Characteristics of Kuchi Indigenous Chicken Ecotype of Kenya

  • Chesoo, Ben K. Department of Science University of Eldoret
  • Oduho, W. George Department of Animal Science University of Eldoret
  • Kios, K. David Department of Animal Science University of Eldoret
  • Rachuonyo, H A. Department of Animal Science University of Eldoret
  • Kitilit, J.K Department of Animal Science University of Eldoret
##article.subject##: : Kuchi, Morphological Characteristics, Ecotype, Killing Out Percentage (KO %), Kenya.

##article.abstract##

Kenya has a rich diversity of Indigenous Chicken (IC).One of them is the Kuchi ecotype whose phenotypic attributes have made it popular in terms of high mature body weight. However, characterization on the phenotypic traits of this chicken ecotype has not been adequately studied. Thus, this study was carried out to assess the morphological characteristics, namely: Feather Colours, Comb Type, Shank Colours and the Meat yield (Killing Out percentage-KO %) of Kuchi IC ecotype kept under a Scavenge System with Supplementation (SSS) from week 17 to 30 of age. The experimental birds were derived from randomly collected pure Kuchi eggs which were bought, hatched artificially and managed intensively using commercial chick and growers mash from day old to 17weeks.From 18 weeks of age, 18 chickens were subjected to a scavenge  feeding with cafeteria  supplementary ration  of commercial layers mash for a period of 12 weeks. The experiment was executed at week 30, involving descriptive statistics and visual appraisals. Generated data was analyzed using an Excel (2007) Soft ware tool. Results revealed three categories for Feather colours: Solid–One, Mixed-Two and Heterogeneity (several-including Frizzled) as: 27.8%, 33.4% and 39%, respectively. Frizzled trait constituted 11.2%. Comb types of Kuchi were categorized into three phenotypic characteristics: Pea (55.6%, Single (22.2%) and Rose (22.2%) types. Shank colours fell into two categories: Yellow (77.8%) and White (22.2%).Kuchi at 30weeks of age had a KO % of 67.8% and 65.9%, for cock and hen respectively. This indicates that a Kuchi cock at 30 weeks old is heavier by 1.9KO%, than a hen of same age. Results from this study can be utilized during selection and breeding of Kuchi and in determining correlations of traits of economic importance in other IC ecotypes.

References

Adebambo, O. A. (2003). Animal Breeds: A Nation heritage. An Inaugural lecture delivered at University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Delivered on 8th October.

Adomake, K. (2009). Local chicken Domestic chicken: Their potential and Improvement; PhD Thesis; Kwame Nkrumah University. Pp115-11.

Alemu, Y., &Tadelle, D. (1997).The status of poultry research and development in Ethiopia, research bulletin No. 4, poultry commodity research program Debrezeit Agricultural research
center. Alemaya University of agriculture, Ethiopia, 62.

Alexander, D. J. (2001).Newcastle disease.British Poultry Science, 42(1), 5-22.

Ali, K. O., Katule, A. M., &Syrstad, O. (2000). Genotype× environment interaction in growing chickens: comparison of four genetic groups on two rearing systems under tropical conditions. Acta Agric Scand (A), 50(2), 65-71.

Badubi, S. S., Rakereng, M., &Marumo, M. (2006).Morphological characteristics and feed resources available for indigenous chickens in Botswana.Livest.Res. Rural Dev, 18(1).

Bhuiyan, A. K. F. H., Bhuiyan, M. S. A., & Deb, G. K. (2005). Indigenous chicken genetic resources in Bangladesh: Current status and future outlook. Animal Genetic Resources Information, 36, 73-84.

Chemjor, W. (1998).Energy and protein requirements of the growing indigenous chickens of Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, M. Sc. Thesis, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya).

Faruque, S., Siddiqui, N. U., Afroz, M. A., & Islam, M. S. (2010). Phenotypic characterization of Native Chicken reared under intensive management system. Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, 8(1), 79-82.

Fayeye, T. R., &Oketoyin, A. B. (2006).Characterization of the Fulani-ecotype chicken for thermoregulatory feather gene.Livestock Research for Rural Development, 18(3), 98-102.

Halima, H., Neser, F. W. C., van Marle-Koster, E., & de Kock, A. (2007).Phenotypic variation of native chicken populations in northwest Ethiopia. Tropical animal health and production, 39(7), 507-513.

Jadhav, N. V., &Siddiqui, M. F. (1999).Handbook of poultry production and management.Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Limited.

Kareri, R. (2010).Some aspects of the geography of Kenya.In Proceedings of the 2010 Indiana University-Perdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Fulbright Hays Group Projects Symposium, Eldoret, Kenya (Vol. 9).

Khan,F.K.,&Ashok Singh.(2002).Principles of Genetics and Animal Breedings.Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers(P)Ltd.24-25

Kosgey, I. S. (2004).Breeding objectives and breeding strategies for small ruminants in the tropics.Wageningen Universiteit.

Lwelamira, J., Kifaro, G. C., &Gwakisa, P. S. (2008).On station and on-farm evaluation of two Tanzania chicken ecotypes for body weights at different ages and for egg production. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 3(12), 843-851.

McAinsh, C. V., Kusina, J., Madsen, J., &Nyoni, O. (2004).Traditional chicken production in Zimbabwe. World's Poultry Science Journal, 60(02), 233-246.

Mogesse, H. H. (2007). Phenotypic and genetic characterization of indigenous chicken populations in Northwest Ethiopia (Doctoral dissertation, University of Free State).

Moreki, J. C., Tiroesele, B., &Chiripasi, S. C. (2012). Prospects of utilizing insects as alternative sources of protein in poultry diets in Botswana: a review. Journal of Animal Science Advance, 2(8), 649-658.

Msoffe, P. L. M. (2003). Diversity among the local chicken ecotypes in Tanzania. Unpublished PhD thesis, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania), 223pp.

Nielsen, H., Roos, N., &Thilsted, S. H. (2003).The impact of semi-scavenging poultry production on the consumption of animal source foods by women and girls in Bangladesh.The Journal of nutrition, 133(11), 4027S-4030S.

Ondwasy, H., Wesonga, H., &Okitoi, L. O. (2006).Indigenous chicken production manual.Kenya Agricultural Research Institute technical note, (18).

Payne, W. J. A., & Wilson, R. T. (1999).An introduction to animal husbandry in the tropics. Oxford etc.: Blackwell science.

Payne, W. J. A., & Wilson, R. T. (1999).An introduction to animal husbandry in the tropics. Oxford etc.: Blackwell science.

Pedersen, C. V. (2000). Farmer-driven research on village chicken production in Sanyati, Zimbabwe. In Improvement of Health and Management of Family Poultry in Africa, Improvement of

Health and Management of Family Poultry in Africa, Second Research Co-ordinating Meeting, Morogoro, Tanzania (pp. 179-186).

Safalaoh, A., Jesemani, K., & Phoya, R. (1998).A survey of broiler production in the Blantyre Agricultural Development Division, Malawi.Development Southern Africa, 15(2), 235-250.

Tougan, P. U., Dahouda, M., Salifou, C. F. A., Ahounou, G. S., Kpodekon, M. T., Mensah, G. A., ... &Youssao, I. A. K. (2013). Relationships between carcass traits and offal components in local poultry populations (gallus gallus) of Benin.Journal of Applied Biosciences, 69, 5510-5522.

Vali, N. (2008). Indigenous chicken production in Iran: a review. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11(22), 2525.

Wesonga, M. (2013, August). Standard Digital News: Business Kuchi chicken offers solution to Marakwet poultry farmers. Retrieved February 17, 2015, from http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000091693/kuchi-chicken-offers-solution-to-marakwet-poultry-farmers?pageNo 3
##submissions.published##
2021-08-11
##issue.issue##
##issue.vol## 3 ##issue.no## 1 (2016)
##section.section##
Articles