Selections and Egg Characteristics of Village Chicken Crossing with Pelung-Crossed Chickens

Abstract

Improving the productivity of village chickens (KP) can be done by crossbreeding using chicken that has high productivity, such as pelung chicken or pelung-crossed chicken (PS). In this study, three mating systems were applied, namely the mating between PS hens and PS roosters, KP hens and PS roosters, and KP hens and KP roosters. Performance selection of all experimental chickens was carried out at the beginning of the study and subsequently tested for egg quality. The results of the selection showed that the average ages of roosters were 13.33 months for PS chickens, 15.00 months for KP chicken, and the average age of hens were 9.90 months for PS and 9.76 months for KP. The average bodyweight of roosters was 3159.33g for PS and 2697.00g for KP, while the average body weight of hens was 2510.30g for PS and 1918.67 for KP. The comb shapes of the PS chicken were a single comb (male and female) while the village chicken's combs were pea (male and female). The shank (leg) of PS chicken was black in both males and females, while the shanks of the native chicken were yellow and black in both males and females. The feather colors of the PS chicken were red in males and black in females. The color of the feathers on the male chicken was striated and black and the female were black. The results of variance analysis showed that the egg weight, length, and egg width of PS hens mated with PS roosters were significantly greater than KP hens mated with PS or KP roosters (56.74g > 46.80g = 45.90g; 58.23mm > 54.77mm = 54.00mm; and 43.34mm > 40.43mm = 40.70mm, respectively). The egg index was similar for those hens with different mating systems. In conclusion, the phenotypic characteristics of KP chicken PS chicken have met the standard recommended by governments. Moreover, all egg characteristics (except egg index) of PS hens mated with PS roosters were significantly higher than KP hens mated with either KP or PS roosters. However, the PS roosters could not improve the egg characteristics of KP hens.