Characteristics and growth of Merawang Chicken in Bangka Belitung under traditional farming system

Abstract

Merawang Chicken is a local chicken originated from Bangka Belitung based on the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture No.2846/kpts/L8.410/8/2012. In addition to its historical value, Merawang chicken also has high economic value; therefore, it needs to be conserved. Most of the Merawang chicken management system in Bangka Belitung is still traditional. The original characteristics of the Merawang chicken are thought to have been mixed with other native chickens. This study aims to identify Merawang chickens’ characteristics in the Bangka Belitung Islands traditionally raised by farmers. This research was conducted on six farmers in three districts on Bangka Island (Pangkalpinang, Bangka, and Central Bangka). Qualitative and quantitative traits were observed. There was non-uniformity in the qualitative characteristic of Merawang chickens at the farmer level, especially in the color of the feathers. As for the quantitative traits, some of the body sizes of Merawang chickens at the farmer level are still below the size stated in the Minister of Agriculture Decree, such as breast length, head length, and comb length. The Average Daily Gain (ADG) for each location also varies depending on the type of feed given.