Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate phenotypic characteristics, morphometric measurements, reproduction and production performances of Aseel chicken of Bangladesh. The dominant feather color of neck/hackles was red in both males (56.14%) and females (54.16%) while the sickle feather color was mostly black in both chickens (71.93% vs. 54.17%). The predominant saddle and breast feather colors were red (40.35%) and black (64.91%), respectively, in male whereas most frequent observed color was pale brown in female (58.33 and 50.0%, respectively). The predominant feather color of wing bow and wing bay was found black (68.42 and 80.70%, respectively) in male but only pale brown color was observed in females (62.5 and 54.17%, respectively) for these two characters. Different phenotypic measurements such as the average shank length and circumference were $12.79{\pm}0.13$ and $7.8{\pm}0.08$ cm, respectively, in male and $10.21{\pm}0.25$ and $5.81{\pm}0.21$ cm, respectively, in female. Keel length was $14.39{\pm}0.19$ cm in male and $10.79{\pm}0.23$ cm in female. The average adult live weight in male was measured $3749.12{\pm}83.44$ g while in female it was $2062.50{\pm}105.26$ g. The age of 1st lay was found to be 28.86 weeks. Total number of eggs laid per year ranged between 24~48, number of clutch/hen/year varied from 2 to 4 and number of eggs/clutch/hen was found to be 10~12. The average live weight of Aseel chicken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 17 weeks of age were recorded as $31.14{\pm}0.55$, $48.63{\pm}3.99$, $116.57{\pm}5.72$, $138.40{\pm}5.91$, $212.88{\pm}4.82$, $361.00{\pm}9.72$, $577.50{\pm}42.86$, $743.75{\pm}24.65$, $1086.00{\pm}26.02$, $1402.00{\pm}24.54$ and $1432.00{\pm}27.00$ g respectively. Finally, this phenotypic characterization as well as productive and reproductive performances of Aseel chicken will give the baseline information to researcher for further study and for planning any on-ward conservation and implement strategy.
