Phenotypic characterization of Aseel, Hilly and Indigenous chickens in situ

This study was done in Nagar of Baraigram Upazila of Natore district, Bandarban Sadar Upazila of Bandarban Hill district and in Sarail Upazila of Brahmanbaria district to know the present status of Indigenous and Aseel chicken and to characterize the term of their morphology, productivity and genotypes in situ.. Morphology and management were studied in foundation stock. Distinct morphological variation was observed for shank color, comb type and height between two genotypes of chickens. The body weight and growth rate of Aseel were significantly higher (p<0.01) than those of indigenous and Hilly chickens. All chickens were found to have normal plumage patterns. The shank of indigenous chicken was 90% white and 10 % black, while the shank color of Aseel chicken was observed to be 100% yellow. In the case of Hilly and Aseel chicken, 100% comb color was red, but for Indigenous, 99% was red and the rest was pale red color. The comb type of Indigenous was 99% single and 1% others; Aseel was 75% pea and 25% rose comb; Hilly was 88.9% single and 11.1% others. Among three genotypes, the average age of cocks was 1.39± 0.08, 2.01± 0.26, 1.16± 0.09 years and that of hens was 1.13±0.08, 1.69±0.23, 1.26±0.09 year for Indigenous chicken, Aseel and Hilly chickens, respectively. These differences affected meat yield. The results sugegests that Aseel is superior for body weight and meat yield; therefore, a genetic improvement program can be taken for Aseel to develop a meat type line in the future.