Characterization of indigenous Aseel chicken breed for morphological, growth, production, and meat composition traits from India

Abstract

Aseel is an important native chicken breed of India, known for its martial qualities (aggressive fighting abilities), pugnacity, and majestic gait. The aim of the study is to conserve and characterize the Aseel germplasm, which is considered to be endangered. The birds were maintained on deep litter under a simulated backyard type of housing having night shelter and a free-range area. A total of 313 chicks produced in the second generation from the flock collected from native tract in Andhra Pradesh was characterized for morphological, growth, production, and meat quality parameters. Aseel birds were characterized by multicolored plumage (predominantly dark brown, black, golden, etc.) with solid feather patterns and normal distribution. Ear lobes were red (92%) and small in size, while 98% of the birds had red colored pea combs with variations in intensity of color. The shank color was yellow in the majority (65%) of the birds. The skin color was white (98%) with pinkish red coloration on exposed body parts, especially on the breast. The fertility and hatchability on total eggs were 67.2 and 41.4%, respectively. Cocks were heavier (P ≤ 0.05) with distinct sexual dimorphism in Aseel. The body weight of hens and cocks was 1,704.4 ± 23.2 and 2,702.5 ± 28.1 g at 40 wk and 2,333.7 ± 26.1 and 3,793.7 ± 20.8 g at 72 wk of age, respectively. The age at sexual maturity was 214.0 ± 6.0 days. The egg production up to 40, 52, and 64 wk of age was 18.0 ± 1, 30.0 ± 2.0, and 47 ± 3 eggs, respectively. The annual egg production (72 wk) was 64 ± 6 eggs. The proximate composition of breast muscle was; protein 21.5 ± 0.5%, fat 3.4 ± 0.1%, ash 2.0 ± 0.1%, and moisture 73.3 ± 0.5%. The pH of breast muscle was 6.0 ± 0.03 and the cholesterol content was 72.5 ± 6.7 mg/100 g. Efforts are on for improving the productivity in the flock without compromising the original breed characteristics.

Studies on growth, carcass and meat quality traits in Aseel crosses suitable for small scale intensive broiler farming

“…The higher leg proportions in the present study might be due to the native Aseel chicken which had stronger legs and rural purelines which were under selection for higher shank length. Similar findings were reported by many authors (Haunshi et al 2013;Padhi et al 2016;Rajkumar et al 2016;Rajkumar et al 2017) in native and crossbred chicken. Liver proportion was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in crosses with rural purelines than the broiler crosses (Table 5).…”

“…Many factors like breed, age, sex, nutrition, rearing systems and type of meat affects the composition of meat (Boskovic et al 2010) which might have caused the variations in present findings also. Similar findings of fat and ash proportion in Aseel chicken meat were observed by Rajkumar et al (2017). The higher ash proportion in Aseel crosses indicated high mineral content in the muscle.…”

“…The chemical constituents like proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and fatty acids contents of the meat determine its value and quality (Pearson A and Gillet 1996). The chemical composition of protein, fat, ash and moisture observed in the meat of the different Aseel crosses were within the range of earlier reported values of protein (17.0-23.3%); fat (1.0-17.4%); ash (0.1-3.6%); moisture (60.4-76.14%) (Boskovic et al 2010;Karakok et al 2010;Souza et al 2011;Rajkumar et al 2017). Many factors like breed, age, sex, nutrition, rearing systems and type of meat affects the composition of meat (Boskovic et al 2010) which might have caused the variations in present findings also.…”

Subsequent Effect of Dietary Lysine Regimens Fed in the Starter Phase on the Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Meat Chemical Composition of Aseel Chicken in the Grower Phase

“…Previous studies on meat composition showed that Aseel breast and thigh muscles meat contain 26.85 and 24.94% crude protein, 3.75 and 7.13% fat, and 88.28 and 83.35% dry matter (Haunshi et al, 2013). Rajkumar et al (2017) reported 21.5% crude protein, 3.4% fat, 2.0 ash and 73.3% moisture in Aseel breast meat.…”

Gut Microbiome Composition Differs Extensively Between Indian Indigenous Chicken Breeds Originated in Different Geographical Locations and a Commercial Broiler Line, but Breed-specific as Well as Across-breed Core Microbiomes Are Found

“…The Nicobari breed is an indigenous and endemic breed of chicken of Nicobar Islands which are an internationally acknowledged biodiversity hot spot, off the Indian mainland (got detached from Asian main-lands some 100 million years ago) and produces highest number of eggs among all indigenous chicken breeds of India [7] and is believed to have high disease resistance. Aseel is one of the important and most popular indigenous chicken breeds of Indian mainland and is well known for their meat quality with desirable taste and avor besides ability to thrive under adverse climatic and nutritional conditions [8]. Ghagus is another important native chicken breeds of coastal region of Southern India known for their meat quality with desirable taste and avor, disease resistance [9] and ability to perform under hot and humid climate and under low plane of nutrition.…”