Characterization of Calabar normal and frizzle feather chickens based on haemoglobin type and body morphometry

Abstract

The study was designed to characterize the normal and frizzle feather chicken in Calabar, Nigeria based on their haemoglobin type and body morphometric traits. One hundred and twenty (120) adult chickens comprising 60 normal (NF)and 60 frizzle feather (FF) genotypes (30 per sex) respectively were used for the study. Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis method was used for determination of haemoglobin type. Linear body measurements such as keel length (KL), body circumference (BC), body length (BL), shank length (SL) and thigh length (TL) were taken. Results of the morphometric measurements indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) in TL, KL and BL between the normal and frizzle feather chickens, normal feather being higher in these traits. The values were recorded as follows: Normal and frizzle feather 17.65cm and 16.70cm (thigh length) 19.78 cm and 17.73cm (shank length), 14.83cm and 14.45cm (keel length) and 18.83cm and 20.20cm (body length) respectively. There was however, no significant difference (p> 0.05) in body weight and body circumference between the normal and frizzle feathered chickens. Normal feather and frizzle feather Nigerian indigenous chickens in Calabar were found to have haemoglobin (Hb) types A and B, having three genotype forms: AA, AB and BB. Gene frequencies of the population of chicken used in this study were A (0.5625) and B (0.4375). Frequency of Hb AB was predominant (42 %), followed by Hb AA (35%) and Hb BB (22%). Females were predominantly of Hb AA (45%) while males were mostly Hb AB (50%). Normal feather chickens were taller and longer than the frizzle feather birds, though they were not significantly (p>0.05) heavier in body weight. Information obtained from this study can be useful in the conservation of genetic resource as well as improvement of these breeds in the study area.

Keywords: Haemoglobin type, gene frequency, genotype frequency, body morphometric traits, chickens