[Germplasm characteristics and genetic diversity of Wenchang fowl]

Some germplasm characteristics and genetic diversity of Wenchang fowl produced in tropical/subtropical Hainan were tested, and compared with different ecological types of other chickness. The results showed that the feather colors of Wenchang hens are brown, yellow-brown and yellow-spotted, accounted for 80.83%, while the cocks are mainly red, with some mixed black on their back (71.96%). The crura color of Wenchang fowl was mainly yellow. Its growing velocity was slower, with smaller body weights, body length and crura length at 40 weeks of age, and being obviously of tropical/subtropical ecological characteristics than those of other ecological types. Wenchang fowl was precocious. The egg production rate of the hen at 127 d and 182 d was 5% and 50%, respectively, with an average egg weight of 37.6 +/- 3.2 g. The egg production of hen in 300 d was 73. By DNA-RAPD analysis, the average similarity index of individuals or populations was 0.6071-0.9699 for Wenchang fowl breeds. Thus, Wenchang fowl had a higher homology than other breeds, kept the breed to be pure.