1. By
Zaib-Ur-Rehman
Lecturer
Department of Poultry Science
PMAS, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

2.  Class : It indicates group of breeds developed in a
particular geographical area. The breeds of chicken are
classified into four classes, viz., American class,
English class, Mediterranean class and Asiatic class
 Breed : A group of birds which are similar in shape,
size and body conformation, and descendants of
common ancestry is known as breed. All the birds of a
breed have more or less same genetic makeup with
common morphological and physiological setup. The
examples of some breeds of chicken are White
Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire,
Australorp, Sussex, Aseel, etc.

3.  Variety : It is the sub-division of a breed distinguished
mainly by colour of plumage, type of comb, etc. For
example, Leghorn breed of chicken has 12 varieties,
like white, brown and buff coloured plumage, and
single and rose type comb, etc.
 Strain: A specific chicken breeding flock bearing a
given name and produced by a breeder through at
least five generations of closed flock mating and
selected for certain characteristics e.g. Babcock

6. Characteristics of the different
Classes of the Poultry
Characteristic American English Mediterranean Asiatic
1. Body size Medium Medium Light Heavy
2. Purpose Dual Dual Egg Meat
3. Shell colour Brown Brown White Brown
4. Ear lobe colour Red Red White Red
5. Skin colour Yellow White Yellow Yellow
6. Feathers on Shank No No No Yes

7. Characteristics of Important
Breeds of Chicken
White Leghorn
 Origin: Leghorn village of Italy
 Class: Mediterranean class
 General appearance: Small and very compact, small head with well set comb
and wattle, long back, prominent breast, tail lowered
down, it is the neatest of all birds
 Plumage colour: White, evenly distributed over the entire body surface
 Standard weight
 Cock 2.7 kg
 Hen 2.0 kg
 Skin colour : Yellow
 Colour of earlobe : Yellowish white
 Shank : Yellow coloured, clean.
 Colour of beak : Yellow
 Egg shell colour : White
 Commercial importance : Egg type bird. All the commercial hybrid
layers are derived from this breed.

8. Male Female

9. Light Sussex
 Origin This breed is originated in Sussex. It is a
light variety of Sussex breed of English
class.
 General appearance Deep body with very good fleshing
quality, broad shoulder
 Plumage colour White plumage with black streaked
feathers on neck and tail.
 Standard weight Cock 4.0 kg
Hen 3.0 kg
 Skin colour White
 Colour of earlobe Red
 Shank White coloured, clean.
 Colour of beak Coloured
 Egg shell colour Brown
 Commercial importance Meat type.

10. Male Female

11. Rhode Island Red (RIR) Origin It is originated in Rhode Island state of America. It is a
breed of American class
 General appearance Long rectangular body, broad and deep breast, flat
back, massive look
 Plumage colour Brownish red and well glossed. Main tail feathers
and sickle feathers (in male) are black. In females,
hackle (neck feather) shows slight black marking at the
base
 Standard weight
 Cock 3.8 kg
 Hen 3.0 kg
 Skin colour Yellow
 Colour of earlobe Reddish
 Shank Yellow coloured, clean.
 Colour of beak Blackish
 Egg shell colour Brown
 Commercial Importance: Dual purpose for egg and meat. More resistant to
diseases than other exotic breeds. Used for upgrading the local/deshi stock.

13. New Hampshire
 Origin It is originated in New Hampshire state of
America. It is a breed of American class. This breed is
developed form RIR through selective breeding.
 General appearance Less rectangular than RIR
 Plumage colour Chestnut red. Main tail feathers are
black. In females, lower neck feathers
are distinctly tipped with black
 Standard weight Cock 3.8 kg
Hen 3.0 kg
 Skin colour Yellow
 Colour of earlobe Reddish
 Shank Yellow, clean
 Colour of beak Yellow
 Egg shell colour Brown
 Commercial importance Dual purpose for egg and meat

15. Australorp
 Origin This breed is developed in Australia from Black
Orpington. It is an English breed
 General appearance Very fleshy, body slopes gradually towards
tail, deep body, closely feathered, long
back, more upright and less massive look
 Plumage colour Black, plumage is lustrous greenish black
in all the sections of the body
 Standard weight Cock 3.8 kg
Hen 3.0 kg
 Skin colour White
 Colour of earlobe Red
 Shank Black or dark slate coloured, clean.
 Colour of beak Black
 Egg shell colour Brown
 Commercial importance : Dual purpose for egg and meat. They can
maintain themselves in wet and heavy
rainfall areas.

17. Breeds of Duck
 Duck breeds are broadly classified into three types
 Meat type ducks
e.g. Aylesbury
White Pekin
Rouen
 Ornamental type ducks
e.g. Call
Crested White
Black East India
 Egg type ducks
e.g. Khaki Campbell
Indian Runner

18. Characteristics of Important Breeds
of Ducks Khaki Campbell
 This breed of duck was developed in England by
crossing between Rouen and White Indian Runner. It
was developed by Mrs. Campbell, and it has 'khaki'
colour. So the name 'Khaki Campbell'
 The average body weight: Duck 2.0 - 2.2 kg and Drake
2.2 - 2.4 kg
 Ducks lay about 300 eggs per year with egg size 72.5 g.
They start to lay at the age of 18 weeks
 Do not require water for swimming

19. Indian Runner
 Body is well carried up in front and shape is as good as
that of penguin.
 Popular varieties of this breed are white, white -
pencilled and fawn.
 The average body weight: Duck 1.5 - 2.0 kg and Drake
2.0 - 2.5 kg.
 They can lay 300 eggs per year. They are good forager
and hardy, and they can maintain themselves in all
types of climate and localities.

20. Aylesbury
 It is a good table duck. Plumage colour is
completely white and they produce creamy white
meat
 The average body weight: Duck 4 kg and Drake 4.5 kg.

21. White Pekin
 It is very popular table duck. Its genetic
development was carried out in USA but its origin is
in China
 Plumage colour of this duck is white and they are very
fertile.
 The average body weight: Duck 3.5 kg and Drake 4.0
kg.