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COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE SKIN OF SOME NIGERIAN INDIGENOUS GENOTYPES OF CHICKEN

Comparative morphological studies were carried out on the skin of three genotypes of Nigerian indigenous chickens. Thirty adult chickens of the three genotypes (10 birds per genotype), all above one year of age, were used to study the morphology of the skin. In all the genotypes studied, they showed quite similar structural characteristics of white to pinkish thin skin. Among the three genotypes studied, the mean body weight was significantly different for the Normal Feathered Chicken compared to the other two genotypes. Mean weight of the skin as well as the percentage weight of the skin were significantly different for all the three genotypes. Contribution of skin to the total body weight in these genotypes ranged from 12.01±0.79 to 21.77±1.21 per cent. The thickness varied considerably in different regions of the body in all the genotypes. Minimum thickness was noticed in the neck region of the naked neck genotype while maximum micrometric thickness was observed in the same region. As in mammals, skin of the Nigerian indigenous chickens was composed of a superficial epidermis and a deep dermis. The current study has demonstrated the likely reason why the naked neck chickens are relatively doing better than other genotypes. Since, less thickness of the skin on the neck region may be translated to be an edge for them in terms of reduction in tropical heat stress by improving body surface area for body heat convection. This ultimately may result in improved feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and performance.