Characteristics of production, reproduction, and sperm quality in Tukong, a rumpless chicken breed from Indonesia

Abstract

Information on the production and reproductive performances of local chickens is crucial for the development of genetic improvement as well as for fostering poultry industry resilience. With limited data available, this study aimed to analyse the production and reproduction of Tukong chickens, a variety of chicken known for its rumpless, originating from West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Two hundred five Tukong chickens, comprising 153 hens and 52 roosters, were raised under intensive management for the study. The collected data included egg production, reproduction traits, and rooster sperm quality. The average body weight of the hens was 1140.55 ± 260.78 g, while the roosters weighed 1434.16 ± 387.43 g. Other production traits, such as first egg weight, number of eggs per clutch, number of clutches per year, average egg weight, and hatching weight, were lower compared to other local chicken breeds in Indonesia. The female chicken had its first egg laid at 241.64 ± 24.65 d, with a fertility rate of 75.34 ± 1.43% and a hatchability rate of 83.05 ± 1.28%. All parameters related to sperm quality in Tukong chickens fell within normal ranges. The findings of this study suggest opportunities for furthering breeding improvements for the Tukong chicken.

Keywords

• indigenous chicken
• productive traits
• reproductive performance
• selection
• genetic improvement