Phenotypic characterization of four indigenous naked neck chicken ecotypes in Pakistan

Abstract A study was conducted to characterize four phenotypes (black, white with black tips, light brown and dark brown) of naked neck chickens [n=320; 80(40♂, 40♀)] for qualitative and quantitative traits at 20 weeks of age. Qualitative phenotypic characterization was based on head appearance, comb type, wattle size, plumage pattern, shank color, spurs prevalence and number of toes. Quantitative phenotypic characterization was based on neck length, keel length, shank length, drum stick length, body length, wing span and circumference. Males and females of all phenotype had plain head and single comb. Plain feather pattern was predominantly most frequent on breast, wing bow, wing bar, wing bay, saddle and tail followed by stippled, penciled and laced. Males had most frequent yellow shanks followed by grey, off-white and green. White black, light and dark brown phenotypes expressed maximum yellow shank coloration whereas grey shanks were most frequent in black birds. Morpho-metric measurements were significantly higher in males than females. Light and dark brown phenotypes had higher values of quantitative traits than those of black and white black. All males and females of naked neck phenotypes possessed four toes, normal spurs and tuft feathers on the ventral portion of the neck above crop. The phenotypic variation observed in indigenous naked neck chickens could provide valuable basic information to develop effective utilization and conservation programs.