This study was conducted in three villages of the Trarza region of Mauritania. The purpose of this study was to describe the management of and to characterize the local chicken. In the three surveyed villages, all the breeders were interviewed according to a questionnaire drafted in French and translated orally into hassanya or poular (national languages) as necessary. 56 poultry breeders were surveyed. Measurements were carried out on 260 adult chickens with 191 females and 69 males. The results showed that family poultry rearing is an activity managed by women. In spite of its socioeconomic importance, it is not considered as a main activity among the farmers responding to the survey. Feed resources deficiencies, animal health and the low productivity of the chickens were declared as the main concerns of the breeders. The average age of females when they start to reproduce is 6 months. The average weight of males was 1324 ± 249 g. That of females was 1028 ± 229 g. The average weight for both sexes together was 1107 ± 268 g. The average weight of the egg was 31 ± 4.81 g. The average weight of a chick on any given day was 26 ± 6.03 g. All the considered physical measurements were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in males. The variability of characters observed offers possibilities for genetic improvement (selection or crossbreeding). In the local chicken, the plumage was highly varied and presented several tints.

The survey, which had for its main objective, the morphobiometrical characterization of the local chicken was carried out from December 2010 to March 2011 in 20 villages in Lobaye Division in the Central African Republic. It was carried out on 474 adult females and 183 adult males. The main results show that the morphological features are very heterogeneous. Indeed, five main types of feathering were observed: normal feathering (75.8%), crested type (10.4%), naked neck (7.0%), feathered tarsus (5.9%) and frizzle type (2.3%). The colouration of feathers is heterogeneous, with a predominance of the white (18.0%), wild (13.4%) and mahogany (11.1%) colours. The single comb is more frequent (95.8%), and is generally red (33.8%) or pink in colour (55.1%). Earlobes are red (24.7%), white (24.0%), white centred (18.1%), yellow (16.1%) or pink (14.6%). The wattles are mainly red (55.4%) or pink (35.2%). The tarsi are mainly yellow (40.6%) or white (37.9%). With regard to the biometric characteristics, the average weight of the local chicken of Lobaye is 1176 ± 206 g for females and 1514 ± 296 g for males. The live weight and most body measurements vary according to the sex and the feathering type. The live weight and the body measurements are significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the males. In the same way, the animals with feathered tarsi are heavier and bigger than the other phenotypes.

This study forms part of a series of works in progress within the framework of the research programme registered at the laboratory of livestock production improvement at the Institute of Rural Development. The aim of this research is the improved performance of the indigenous Batéké hen.

The observation of weights at each weighing indicates a dynamic of significant growth. The chick which is born at 28,38 ± 2,3 g multiplies its weight by 4,2 one month after, gaining 119,3 ± 10 g (td > 3). The males grow more quickly than the females: at 3 months they reach 770,51 ± 94,35 g and 563,9 ± 43,2 g; in 6 months, 1 462 ± 118 g and 993,43 ± 99 g respectively (td > 4). Egg production per clutch reached 13,44 ± 0,2 eggs with a fecundity rate of 78,96 ± 10% and hatchability of 71,7 ± 8,4%. The positive correlations observed were regarded as linear. The conditions of breeding and feeding are determining factors in improving the performance of the indigenous Batéké hen and this is well appreciated by the Congolese population and the Islamic community living in Congo.