PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF NATIVE CHICKEN OF SUDAN

Three flocks of Large Baladi, Betwil and Bare Neck chicken ecotypes (350 birds) which reproduced about 2000 chicks were used to evaluate the production and reproduction performance and morphological characterization in addition to broodiness associated with plasma prolactin hormone levels at production, incubation and rearing stages. The following results were obtained:- The egg production rates for Large Baladi, Betwil and Bare Neck birds were significantly different being highest in Bare Neck and lowest in Betwil. The average egg weight of Large Baladi and Bare Neck were significantly higher than that of Betwil (42.33, 41.71 and 45.40 grams for Large Baladi, Betwil and Bare Neck birds, respectively). There were positive and high correlations between egg weight and weights of other egg components (e.g. albumin, yolk and shell) in both Betwil and Bare Neck chicken ecotypes. Bare Neck ecotype was significantly heavier than Betwil at all ages, and the average cumulative body weight gain up to 20 weeks of age was also significantly higher in Bare Neck than in Betwil. The average fertility of the three ecotypes was significantly different, being highest in Large Baladi and lowest in Bare Neck, while the corresponding hatchability of fertile eggs was also significantly different being highest in Large Baladi and lowest in Bare Neck birds. The average number of eggs per clutch and the average clutch lengths were 9.89 eggs and 14.44 days for Betwil and 13.52 eggs and 20.04 days for Bare Neck birds. x Broodiness significantly reduced feed intake and hence egg production in all ecotypes. Alleviating broodiness through managerial practice resulted in substantial increase in egg production, represented by 21.90% and 21.18% for Betwil and Bare Neck birds, respectively. The Sudanese chicken ecotypes have a wide range of morphological characterization which can be used for classification into distinct phenotypic groups. There were significant differences in average prolactin levels between Betwil and Bare Neck chicken ecotypes as well as during production, incubation and rearing periods