Selection, rehabilitation of black bone chickens at Dong Van and Xin Man districts, Ha Giang province

Mountainous black-bone chickens are characterized by black bones, meat and skin meat from black-bone chickens has been preferred by consumers. Conservation of mountainous black-bone chickens is one way to maintain the animal bio-diversity for H¿mong minority group in the northern mountainous provinces. From the original generation consisted of 200 females and 30 males selected from Xin Man and Dong Van, the first generation was established. From the first generation, a breeding flock consisted 773 birds in 30 households was established. The body weight of hens and cocks at 20 weeks old was 1,266 - 1,218.66 and 1,706.33 - 1,720.67 g, respectively. Selection by feather phenotypes showed that there was a difference in the growth rate among three feather phenotypes. The body weight at one day old of the black, white and striped feather chicken, which was 36.33, 32.70 and 30.07 g, respectively, was not significantly different. However, the body weight at 20 weeks old of the black, white and striped feather chicken, which was 1505.70, 1114.00, 612.10 and 1480.90 g, respectively. (Résumé d'auteur