Morphometric and reproductive characterization of four autochthonous chicken ecotypes in Ethiopia

A study was conducted to characterize four autochthonous chicken ecotypes of Ethiopia using selected phenotypic traits. Data were collected from a total of 191 chickens, including reproductive traits such as age at first egg, first egg weight, egg number at 250 days, egg weight at 250 days, hatchability and fertility. Morphometric measurements were recorded at 24 weeks of age from 40 cocks and 151 hens, including body weight and linear body dimensions. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed using SAS software. The results revealed moderate variation among ecotypes, with significant differences observed in age at first egg, first egg weight, and egg number at 250 days. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify key traits contributing to variation. In female chickens, the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained 76.13% of the total variation, while in males, the first three principal components (PC1, PC2, and PC3) accounted for 72.14% of the total variation. Key discriminating traits in males included shank length, shank circumference, neck length, wattle width, and wing span, whereas in females, shank length, beak length, wattle length, keel length, and wing span were the most important distinguishing features. In conclusion, the observed phenotypic variability indicates the potential for selection and genetic improvement of indigenous chicken ecotypes. However, integrating molecular characterization is recommended to validate morphological differences and enhance breeding programs.