In-situ morphological characterization of indigenous chicken Ecotypes in Uganda

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorBeyihayo, Geoffrey Akiiki
dc.contributor.authorNdyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
dc.contributor.authorEchodu, Richard
dc.contributor.authorKugonza, Donald
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-18T09:04:17Z
dc.date.available2025-09-18T09:04:17Z
dc.date.issued2022-09-01
dc.description.abstractGenetic improvement of indigenous chickens (IC) is hindered by limited knowledge on the various chicken Ecotypes. This study characterized and assessed the genetic diversity of nine (9) IC Ecotypes based on quantitative morphological traits. A total of 576 IC (288 cocks and 288 hens) were sampled from 288 households across the 9 agro-ecological zones of Uganda. Data on linear morphological traits and live weight of IC were collected using a field guide developed by African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR, 2015). Over-all, body live weight (LWT), shank/tarsus length (SL), drumstick length (DL), thorax circumference (TC) and body length (BL) of IC varied significantly (P < 0.05) across Ecotypes except tarsus circumference (TAC) of cocks. Cocks and hens on average weighed 2.2 ± 0.53 and 1.6 ± 0.58 kg respectively. On average, SL, DL, TC, BL, TAC was 9.8 ± 1.23, 4.9 ± 2.50, 16.2 ± 1.63, 38.4 ± 5.96, 24.7 ± 4.93 cm for cocks and 7.8 ± 1.04, 3.9 ± 0.53, 13.2 ± 1.42, 33.8 ± 5.29, 21.3 ± 4.37 cm for hens respectively. Body weight and linear morphological traits except TAC were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by Ecotype. Principal component analysis based on live body weight and morphological linear traits did not identify any distinct chicken Ecotype. The disparity in weight estimation models further emphasizes the ecologically induced variations across Ecotypes. Therefore, the current study confirms the morphological and more so genetic similarity implying genetic improvement can be achieved through selection of superior IC across Ecotypes.
dc.description.sponsorshipAfrican Union (AU) is acknowledged for financing this study under the Native Chicken Project (Contract number: AURG II-2-115-2018). We are also grateful to the farmers in the participating agro-ecological zones for allowing us to use their chickens in the study.
dc.identifier.citationBeyihayo, G. A., Ndyomugyenyi, E. K., Echodu, R., & Kugonza, D. R. (2022). In-situ morphological characterization of indigenous chicken Ecotypes in Uganda. Ecological Genetics and Genomics, 24, 100129.
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.egg.2022.100129
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14270/662
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEcological Genetics and Genomics
dc.relation.ispartofseriesVol. 24
dc.subjectQuantitative traits
dc.subjectMorphology
dc.subjectEcological
dc.subjectDiversity
dc.subjectSelection
dc.titleIn-situ morphological characterization of indigenous chicken Ecotypes in Uganda
dc.typeArticle

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
ndyomugyenyi_In-situ morphological characterization of indigenous chicken Ecotypes in Uganda_2022.pdf
Size:
1.71 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Research Articles