Abstract

Morphological and morphometric characterization of indigenous chicken ecotypes were carried out in West-Omo zone of Southwest Ethiopia. Nine qualitative and fifteen quantitative traits were observed/ measured from 660 matured chickens of both sexes. The data was analysed using SPSS version 21 and SAS version 9.1. Majority of the qualitative and quantitative traits were significantly influenced by sex and agro-ecological zones. The predominant plumage color, feather distribution, shank color, skin color, ear-lobe color, eye color, head shape, comb type, and feather morphology were red (38.4%), normal (96.2%), yellow (45%), white (48.8%), red (42.1%), red (28.6%), flat plain (94.4%), single (64.7%) and normal (100%). The body weight of matured male chickens in highland, mid-altitude and lowland agro-ecologies was 2.1±0.02 kg, 2.2±0.05 kg, and 2.0±0.03 kg, respectively, while females weighed 1.4±0.01 kg, 1.5±0.00 kg, and 1.4±0.01 kg in highland, mid-altitude, and lowland agro-ecologies, respectively. Males were also superior to females in terms of body length (BL) values of 42.0 ± 0.19cm and 37.7 ± 0.06cm, respectively. The prediction of body weight could be based on regression equation y = -1.02 + 0.10 CC (chest circumference) for male and y= -1.26 + 0.07BL of hen in highland altitude, y = -1.06+ 0.11 CC of male and y= -0.78+ 0.05 BL of hen in mid-altitude and similarly y = -0.90 +0.10 CC in lowland male and y= -1.33 + 0.07 BL of lowland hen. Therefore, chest circumference for males and body length for females were the best variables to predict the body weight of chickens than other variables. The current finding shows there was heterogeneity in a population of indigenous chickens in the studied agro-ecology. This gives an opportunity for genetic improvement of indigenous chickens within a population.