GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION, CLASSIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF DIFFERENT NATIVE CHICKEN VARIETIES OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present study was conducted with native chicken varieties available in Bangladesh. The prominent chicken varieties included Normal indigenous, Naked neck indigenous, Aseel, Hilly birds, Jungle fowl and Tiger birds. Geographical distributions of these chicken varieties were documented. Different morphological characteristics as to body size and conformation were measured. Internal body o r g a n m e a s u r e m e n t s o f d i f f e r e n t o r g a n s w e r e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f this research. The native chickens were classified according to their morphological/ phenotypic variants. Observations were recorded from different native chicken varieties belonging to different geographical regions. The regions included Mymensingh, Chittagong, Bandarban, Tecnaf and Sorail Upizilla under Bramanbaria district. From those observations it is revealed that Normal indigenous and Necked neck indigenous were existence all over the country. Jungle fowl as the name implies is found in the forest areas of Modhupur under Tanghail district and Bandarban district of Chittagong Hill tracts. Hilly birds are found in Chittagong hill tract and its adjacent hilly area. Aseel a reported Deshi type chicken, which is restricted only to Sorail Upazilla under Brahmanbaria district and Tiger birds are found in Tecknaf region and adjacent areas. From observation of the different native chicken varieties, different shank colour such as black, white and yellow were found. The different plumage colour variants as observed in the present study were white, red, black and mixed c o l o u r a n d s h a d e s . I n t h i s s t u d y m o s t o f t h e n a t i v e c h i c k e n s w e r e found to contain Single comb and a few of them Rose and Pea comb. Internal body organ (liver, heart, gizzard, ovary and testis) weights of different native chickens were measured. The average chicken dressing percentage was higher (73%) in male chicken and lower (62%) in female chicken.