Morphometric Differentiation and Assessment of Function of the Fulani and Yoruba Ecotype Indigenous Chickens of Nigeria/Diferenciacion Morfometrica y Evaluacion de la Funcion de Ecotipos de Pollos Nativos Fulani y Yoruba de Nigeria‪.‬

INTRODUCTION Adaptability of indigenous chickens in the tropical environment has been through reduction in body sizes as a means of reducing maintenance feed requirement and increasing feed efficiency (Rashid et al., 2005). This is necessary for them to survive the scavenging feed resource base reportedly inadequate quantitatively and qualitatively (Dana & Ogle, 2002). Limit is thus placed on the growth and reproductive potential of the indigenous chickens (Kitalyi, 1998), the effect of which is felt in their weight gains and final body weight. Attempts to provide adequate diet has not been economically justifiable (Pedersen, 2002; Lwesya et al., 2004) shifting attention to the genetic improvement of these chickens for effective utilization of dietary nutrients.