ByZaib-Ur-Rehman

LecturerDepartment of Poultry Science

PMAS, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Class : It indicates group of breeds developed in aparticular geographical area. The breeds of chicken areclassified into four classes, viz., American class,English class, Mediterranean class and Asiatic class

Breed : A group of birds which are similar in shape,size and body conformation, and descendants ofcommon ancestry is known as breed. All the birds of abreed have more or less same genetic makeup withcommon morphological and physiological setup. Theexamples of some breeds of chicken are WhiteLeghorn, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire,Australorp, Sussex, Aseel, etc.

Variety : It is the sub-division of a breed distinguishedmainly by colour of plumage, type of comb, etc. Forexample, Leghorn breed of chicken has 12 varieties,like white, brown and buff coloured plumage, andsingle and rose type comb, etc.

Strain: A specific chicken breeding flock bearing agiven name and produced by a breeder through atleast five generations of closed flock mating andselected for certain characteristics e.g. Babcock

Characteristics of the differentClasses of the Poultry

Characteristic American English Mediterranean Asiatic

1. Body size Medium Medium Light Heavy

2. Purpose Dual Dual Egg Meat

3. Shell colour Brown Brown White Brown

4. Ear lobe colour Red Red White Red

5. Skin colour Yellow White Yellow Yellow

6. Feathers on Shank No No No Yes

Characteristics of ImportantBreeds of ChickenWhite Leghorn Origin: Leghorn village of Italy Class: Mediterranean class General appearance: Small and very compact, small head with well set comb

and wattle, long back, prominent breast, tail lowereddown, it is the neatest of all birds

Plumage colour: White, evenly distributed over the entire body surface Standard weight Cock 2.7 kg Hen 2.0 kg Skin colour : Yellow Colour of earlobe : Yellowish white Shank : Yellow coloured, clean. Colour of beak : Yellow Egg shell colour : White Commercial importance : Egg type bird. All the commercial hybrid

layers are derived from this breed.

Male Female

Light Sussex Origin This breed is originated in Sussex. It is a

light variety of Sussex breed of Englishclass.

General appearance Deep body with very good fleshingquality, broad shoulder

Plumage colour White plumage with black streakedfeathers on neck and tail.

Standard weight Cock 4.0 kgHen 3.0 kg

Skin colour White Colour of earlobe Red Shank White coloured, clean. Colour of beak Coloured Egg shell colour Brown Commercial importance Meat type.

Male Female

Rhode Island Red (RIR) Origin It is originated in Rhode Island state of America. It is a

breed of American class General appearance Long rectangular body, broad and deep breast, flat

back, massive look Plumage colour Brownish red and well glossed. Main tail feathers

and sickle feathers (in male) are black. In females,hackle (neck feather) shows slight black marking at thebase

Standard weight Cock 3.8 kg Hen 3.0 kg Skin colour Yellow Colour of earlobe Reddish Shank Yellow coloured, clean. Colour of beak Blackish Egg shell colour Brown Commercial Importance: Dual purpose for egg and meat. More resistant to

diseases than other exotic breeds. Used for upgrading the local/deshi stock.

New Hampshire Origin It is originated in New Hampshire state of

America. It is a breed of American class. This breed isdeveloped form RIR through selective breeding.

General appearance Less rectangular than RIR Plumage colour Chestnut red. Main tail feathers are

black. In females, lower neck feathersare distinctly tipped with black

Standard weight Cock 3.8 kgHen 3.0 kg

Skin colour Yellow Colour of earlobe Reddish Shank Yellow, clean Colour of beak Yellow Egg shell colour Brown Commercial importance Dual purpose for egg and meat

Australorp Origin This breed is developed in Australia from Black

Orpington. It is an English breed General appearance Very fleshy, body slopes gradually towards

tail, deep body, closely feathered, longback, more upright and less massive look

Plumage colour Black, plumage is lustrous greenish blackin all the sections of the body

Standard weight Cock 3.8 kgHen 3.0 kg

Skin colour White Colour of earlobe Red Shank Black or dark slate coloured, clean. Colour of beak Black Egg shell colour Brown Commercial importance : Dual purpose for egg and meat. They can

maintain themselves in wet and heavyrainfall areas.

Breeds of Duck Duck breeds are broadly classified into three types

Meat type duckse.g. Aylesbury

White Pekin

Rouen

Ornamental type duckse.g. Call

Crested White

Black East India

Egg type duckse.g. Khaki Campbell

Indian Runner

Characteristics of Important Breedsof Ducks

Khaki Campbell

This breed of duck was developed in England bycrossing between Rouen and White Indian Runner. Itwas developed by Mrs. Campbell, and it has 'khaki'colour. So the name 'Khaki Campbell'

The average body weight: Duck 2.0 - 2.2 kg and Drake2.2 - 2.4 kg

Ducks lay about 300 eggs per year with egg size 72.5 g.They start to lay at the age of 18 weeks

Do not require water for swimming

Indian Runner Body is well carried up in front and shape is as good as

that of penguin.

Popular varieties of this breed are white, white -pencilled and fawn.

The average body weight: Duck 1.5 - 2.0 kg and Drake2.0 - 2.5 kg.

They can lay 300 eggs per year. They are good foragerand hardy, and they can maintain themselves in alltypes of climate and localities.

Aylesbury

It is a good table duck. Plumage colour iscompletely white and they produce creamy whitemeat

The average body weight: Duck 4 kg and Drake 4.5 kg.

White Pekin It is very popular table duck. Its genetic

development was carried out in USA but its origin isin China

Plumage colour of this duck is white and they are veryfertile.

The average body weight: Duck 3.5 kg and Drake 4.0kg.