Phenotype and Performance of Betong Chickens in Three Southern Border Provinces (Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat)

Abstract

The phenotypes of Betong chickens are bright reddish-yellow plumage throughout the body, yellowish skin and a beak, and a single comb. The body weights of male and female Betong chickens (at the age of 16 – 24 weeks) were 2.0 – 2.5 and 1.46 – 2.2 kg, respectively. The feed conversion ratio was 3.29. Female Betong chickens started to lay eggs at approximately 23 weeks and they laid an average of 13 eggs per clucth or approximately 60 eggs per year. The average weight of an egg was 47.77 grams. The weights of prechilled carcass, pectoralis major, thighs, drumstick, wing, shank, head, heart, and spleen of the males (at the age of 24 weeks) were higher than those of females. Whereas the weights of pectoralis minor, skeletal frame, liver, gizzard, and abdominal leaf fat of females were higher than those of males.