Investigation of Genetic Resource and Evaluation of Germplasm Characteristics of Yulong Snow Mountain Black-Boned Chicken

PurposeTo discover new local chicken resources in Yunnan Province, the genetic resource investigation and germplasm characteristics evaluation of Yulong Snow Mountain black-boned chicken were carried out.

MethodsThe basic information, appearance characteristics, body weight and size, production performance were investigated or measured by conventional genetic resource investigation techniques and methods.

ResultsYulong Snow Mountain black-boned chicken is an excellent breed of indigenous black-boned chicken with meat and egg dual purpose, which is formed in the plateau mountain habitat of northwest Yunnan and extensive breeding mode. The formation of this chicken breed is also closely related to the local Naxi culture and eating habits. The chicken is medium in size, the average body weight of adult cocks and hens is 2 073 and 1 902 g, respectively, the body structure index of them is 0.145 9 and 0.169 7, respectively; with a single comb, regular feathers, well-developed pectoral muscles and high shanks (the average shank length for adult cocks and hens is 14.21 and 11.21 cm, respectively). Its main characteristics are black feathers and black bones. It has excellent characteristics such as adaptation to the cold climate environment of the local high altitude, rough feeding resistance, strong foraging ability and strong disease resistance. Under the condition of farmers’ free-range rearing, the chicken has good meat (the average daily gain of cocks and hens is 6.74 and 6.21 g, respectively; the slaughter rate of them is 89.09% and 89.20%, respectively) and egg production performance (annual egg production of hens: 150-180). Under the conditions of house ground-breeding, its growth rate increases obviously, the average daily gain of cocks and hens is (11.06±0.09) and (9.68±0.31) g, respectively; and the feed to gain ratio of them is 2.78 and 2.91, respectively.

ConclusionThe body shape and appearance of Yulong Snow Mountain black-boned chicken is different from other indigenous chickens in Yunnan, and it has excellent germplasm characteristics, but its breeding degree is not high.