Morphological Variations and Path Coefficient Analysis of Zoometric Traits of Local Chickens in Tolon District of Northern Ghana

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the morphological characteristics of domestic chicken in Tolon District of Ghana. Birds aged between 8  to 24 months and reared under the traditional scavenging system were randomly selected in four communities (Nyankpala, Tolon,  Woribogu and Dondo). Live body weight (BW) and thirteen morphometric traits namely, body length (BDL), chest circumference (CC),  thigh circumference (TC), drumstick length (DL), shank length (SL), wing length (WGL), neck length (NL), head width (HDW), hip width  (HPW), comb length (CL), head length (HDL), wattle length (WAL) and beak length (BKL) were measured. The data was subjected to  general linear model, correlation and path coefficient analyses. The results revealed average values as 0.99 kg, 18.98 cm, 20.60cm, 7.78  cm, 11.78 cm, 8.05 cm, 16.17 cm, 12.15 cm, 2.34 cm, 7.57 cm, 3.39 cm, 2.28 cm, 1.70 cm and 2.60 cm for BW, BDL, CC, TC, DL, SL, WGL, NL,  HDW, HPW, CL, HDL, WAL and BKL respectively. Location of birds significantly (p< 0.05) affected morphometric traits (BDL, CC, TC, SL,  WGL, NL, HDW, CL, HPW, and WAL) of birds. Sex of birds had significant (p<0.05) effects on BDL, DL, SL, WGL, NL, HDW, CL, HDL, WAL and  BKL but age did not affect (p>0.05) any morphometric trait. Presence of spur affected (p<0.05) the variations in BW, DL, NL, CL, HDL, WAL  and BKL whiles comb type had no significant (p>0.05) effects on any morphometric trait. Correlation coefficients were generally low, with  the highest (0.513) recorded between TC and CC. The highest direct path coefficient was obtained from CC (0.237), followed by BDL  (0.156) and WAL (0.153). The findings of this study will be useful in characterization and breeding programs for local domestic chickens.