Crowing characteristics of native singing chicken breeds in Indonesia

Abstract

Singing chicken is germplasm, genetic resources, indigenous chicken in Indonesia and be known of their unique, exclusive, superiority of singing style with long-melodious rhythm, and different crowing style-tone-tempo comparing with other singing chickens breeds in the world. Some crowing character information was needed to optimize conservation and utilization strategies. The aim of the study was to compare crowing duration and number crowing syllables four singing chicken breeds in Indonesia (Bekisar, Kokok Balenggek, Pelung and Gaga'). This research used 532 birds Gaga' chicken from Sidrap, Barru and Maros Districts, South-Sulawesi province, Indonesia. They were separated based on crowing speed into Slow-group (234 birds) and Dangdut-group (298 birds). Then, Dangdut-group has separated again, based on total number crowing syllables, into Long-Dangdut-type (51 birds) and Short-Dangdut-type (247 birds). All crowing sounds were recorded and computerizing digitalized using Cool Edit Pro. Software to visualized bioacoustic character as a wave form then data interpreting for analyzing mean and standard deviation. Average crowing durations of Pelung, Kokok Balenggek, Bekisar and Gaga' chicken (Short-Dangdut-type and Slow-group) were 2.0 to 10.0 sec. Dangdut-Long-type was the longest crowing duration (30.5 sec) and the highest number syllables (140.92). Average number syllables of Pelung (3 sec), Kokok Balenggek (3 to 12 sec) and Bekisar (2 sec) chicken were less than Gaga' chicken (Dangdut-Long-type: 140.9 sec, Dangdut-Short-type: 20.9 sec and Slow group: 8.2 sec). Each singing chicken breed in Indonesia have uniqueness and differences crowing character. A crowing character such as crowing duration and number of syllable could be identified as one of basic selection to promote and to maintain conservation of singing chicken as germplasm of Indonesia.