Morpho-Biometric Characterization of the "Kolonto" Local Chicken Ecotype in Gaya Area

The morpho-biometric characterization of local chicken "Kolonto" ecotype was undertaken in the department of Gaya. The objective of this study is to promote the breeding of the "Kolonto" ecotype in Niger. A sample of 111 hens and 35 roosters was photographed, described and measured individually. This sample was collected in 15 localities distributed in the 6 communes that count the department of Gaya. The results of this study show that there is a great diversity of plumage in the local chicken "Kolonto" ecotype. The predominant plumage is the mille fleur (16%), the white and the mottled (14%), the partridge (13%), the red (12%) and the golden cuckoo (9%). The average weight of the chicken "Kolonto" ecotype is 1346,5g against 1641,2g and 1253,5g respectively for the males and the females because of the sexual dimorphism highlighted by means of ANOVA carried out on the basis of the various quantitative parameters. The high variability of the local chicken "Kolonto" ecotype demonstrated by this study is an opportunity for a poultry breeding program