An exploratory field survey was conducted in north Gondar zone, Ethiopia to identify and characterize the local chicken ecotypes. Seven qualitative and twelve quantitative traits from 450 chickens were considered. Chicken ecotypes such as necked neck, Gasgie and Gugut from Quara, Alefa and Tache Armacheho districts were identified, respectively. Morphometric measurements indicated that the body weight and body length of necked neck and Gasgie ecotypes were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than Gugut ecotypes except in shank circumstances. Sex and ecotype were the significant (p < 0.01) sources of variation for both body weights and linear body measurements. The relationship of body weight with other body measurements for all ecotypes in both sexes were highly significant (r = 0.67, p < 0.01). Some traits like wingspan, body length and super length (r = 0.64, P < 0.01) for males and for females (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) of necked neck chickens are significantly correlated with body weight. Therefore, highly correlated traits are the basic indicators for estimation of the continuous prediction of body weight of chicken. Identification and characterization of new genetic resources should be employed routinely to validate and investigate the resources in the country.

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Characterization of breeding practices of indigenous chicken of North Wollo was conducted from January 2011 to May 2012 with the aim to identifying farmers' trait preferences of chicken, breeding objectives and priority areas of intervention. Focus group discussions were held, followed by a survey using semi-structured questionnaires. The survey revealed that both uncontrolled and controlled mating was practiced. Egg production, meat yield and disease resistance were the most preferred traits by farmers for further improvement. Based on flock size, production system, infrastructure availability, preferred traits and economic return, population settlement; roll mating and grading mate would be recommend to low altitude areas where as clan mating and breed out-out was the recommended breeding program to the mid altitude and high altitude study area.

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