Qualitative Traits Variation in Indigenous Chickens of Bekwarra, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the distribution and gene frequency of some qualitative traits of indigenous chickens of Bekwarra, Southern, Nigeria. One thousand and sixty adult scavenging chickens were sampled from 208 rural households. Data obtained were subjected to chi- square test and gene frequencies were calculated using both the Hardy – Weinberg equilibrium and the Mendelian principle of inheritance. The most predominant skin colour, eye colour, comb type, feather distribution, foot feathering and plumage colour were white (75.85%), black (44.72%), single (88.49%), fully feathered (93.21%), smooth feet (73.59%) and black (39.43%), respectively. There were highly significant (P˂0.001) differences between and within sexes for comb type, feather distribution, foot feathering and plumage colour. The dominant genes for rose comb, pea comb, naked neck and feathered feet segregated at low frequencies (0.083; 0.094; 0.035; and 0.142). The dominant alleles segregated at lower frequency probably due to social preference, natural selection, adaptation and interaction of genes. The indigenous chickens constitute a store of useful genetic materials that are well adapted to their environment and should be improved for better productivity.