Body Measurements and their Correlations in Transylvanian Naked Neck Chickens (Black Variety) Grown in a Semi-Intensive System

Abstract

The growth process is complicated being influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Body development in birds can be assessed by carrying out body mass weighings as well as taking body measurements. Body size measurements can effectively estimate body mass and provide useful information in assessing bird conformation and establishing fitness for certain productions by determining various correlations and simple or multiple regression equations, being the best parameter for decision making in production activity. In this study, we analyzed both the growth dynamics of the Transylvanian Naked Neck youth breed (the black variety) and the existing correlations between different body regions within this mixed breed over a period of 32 weeks on a batch of 13 specimens in semi-intensive growing system. At the end of the analyzed period, the Transylvanian Naked Neck birds recorded an average weight of 1796.67 g, trunk length 19 cm, sternal carapace length 12.13 cm, chest width 7.90 cm, pelvis width 9.10 cm, perimeter chest 32.60 cm, waist circumference 4.30 cm and trunk depth 11.33 cm. The correlations between the measurements performed are mostly strongly positive (r>0.8), and body mass shows strongly positive correlations with all the measurements performed in this study.