Shank Colour Effect on Zoometric Traits of Indigenous Normal Feathered Chickens

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate the shank colour effect on zoometric traits of indigenous
normal feathered chickens. Two hundred adult chickens of both sexes comprising of black, white,
yellow, cream and grey shank colours under smallholder flock in Lafia, were randomly sampled.
Data were collected at four locations: Azuba centre, Keffi wambai, Agyaragu and Adogi. Nine
zoometric traits: Comb Length (CL), Body Length (BDL), Breast Circumference (BC), Thigh
Length (TL), Thigh Circumference (TC), Wing Length (WL), Foot Length (FL), Shank Length
(SL) and Total Leg Length (TLL) were measured on each chickens. The General Linear Model
(GLM) of SPSS was employed for the data analysis. There was significant differences (P<0.05)
recorded for grey shank coloured chickens for comb and foot length. Cream, white and yellow
shank coloured chickens recorded significant differences (P<0.05) for body length. Also cream
shank coloured chickens recorded significant differences (P<0.05) for breast circumference and
wing length. Cream and white shank coloured chickens recorded significant difference (P<0.05)
for thigh circumference. Shank length and total leg length were highly influenced (P<0.05) by
the white shank coloured chickens. Thigh length was also influenced (P<0.05) by white and
yellow shank coloured chickens. Female chicken had higher (P<0.05) values of comb length and
foot length compared to their male counterpart. Male chickens were superior to their female
counterparts for body length, shank length, thigh length and total leg length. The sex variations
in the zoometric traits of the chickens of this study would provide basis selection and
improvement.