(1) The document discusses the origin and genetic classification of various poultry species. It notes that chickens were first domesticated around 5400 BC in China, while other species like geese and ducks were domesticated in China and Egypt around 2500 BC. (2) Over time, domestication led to changes in poultry like increased reproduction in captivity and alterations to physical traits. Initially, birds were primarily used for cultural purposes and entertainment, but later became an important human food source. (3) The genetic classification of poultry places them in the animal kingdom down to the genus level. Four wild species of junglefowl in the Gallus genus are discussed, along with their distinguishing physical

1. ORIGIN AND GENETIC CLASSIFICATION
OF POULTRY
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2. Species Period Country
Chicken 5400 BC
2500-2100 BC
China
From Harappan Culture:
may be main source of
diffusion to the world
Geese and Mallard ducks 2500 BC
1500 BC
China
Egypt- separately
domesticated. In west
mallard duck was not till
middle age
Ring necked pheasants 1300 BC Greece
Turkey 200 BC to 700 AD Mexico
Muscovy ducks 16th century Columbia, Peru
Japanese quail 11th century Japan, China, Korea
Guinea fowl West African birds
introduced by Portugese
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4. Effects of domestication
• Seed/grass eating species are preferred.
• Reproduction in captivity: Reproduction became less
dependent on climatic and environmental factors.
• Development of social order.
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5. Consequences
• Increase in bone length.
• Noticeable changes in plumage.
• Alteration to the limbs involving length, muscle
attachments and joint structure.
• Changes in skin covering, fat deposition and brain
size.
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6. Purpose and utilization of domestic
birds
• Initially used primarily for cultural needs, decorative
arts and entertainment.
• Later used as human food
i. In ancient rome; geese were sacred initially
and later on became a table delicacy.
ii. In spain & Turkey – Cultural activities
iii. Japanese quails – Song birds
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7. Domestication – chicken or domestic
fowl
• Only 3 fossils of Gallus species have been recorded .
• Two of them from UK and one from Greece & Black
sea region .
• Fossil from UK is coracoid bone resembling Gallus
gallus. Assigned to new species gallus europaeus .
• Fossil from Greece and Black sea region is tarso-
metatarsus bone similar to Gallus gallus & coracoid
bone much longer.
• Assigned to new species Gallus aesculapi .
• Totally 4 species are known to modern ornithology .
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8. Genetic classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum : chordate
• Class : aves
• Order : Galliformes
• sub order : Galli
• Family : phasianidae
• Sub family : phasianinae
• Tribe : phasianini
• Genus : Gallus
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9. Wild Gallus species
 4 recognised species under genus Gallus :
• G.gallus – Red Jungle Fowl ,RJF
• G.sonneratti-grey (or) sonnerats
• G.lafayetti – old name G.stanleyi , in Ceylon
• G.varius –green, old name G.furcatus
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10. Gallus gallus
• 5 Subspecies in males
• G.g.gallus – Cochin – Chinese RJF
• G.g.spadiceus – Burmese RJF
• G.g.jabouillei – Tokinese RJF
• G.g.murghi – Indian RJF
• G.g.bankiva – Javan RJF
 These differ in
• Color of ear lobes ( white to red )
• Shape and neck hackle feathers in males &
• Shade of red plumage in males (golden yellow to
mahogany)
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11. Origin of modern poultry
• Not clear
• Might have begun in Burma
• In Harappan culture (2500 -2100 BC ) of the indus
valley reared chicken and later on diffused westward
to other parts of the world at a rate of 1.53 km /year.
• Except for Egypt ,diffusion of chicken into Africa is
unknown.
• India is likely to be source leads to well developed
trade between India & Africa
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12. Gallus gallus (red jungle fowl )
• Comb is single upright ,serrated blade; a pair of
wattles.
• Male exhibit spectacular coloring whereas females
have drab color but feathers have identical
morphology in both the sexes .
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15. Gallus lafayetti [Ceylon jungle fowl]
• Male plumage is similar to RJF except that breast
feathers are pointed and fringed .males have a
peculiar patch of bluish purple feathers on the upper
breast.
• Plumage of the females is similar to those of RJF
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17. Ceylon jungle fowl - female
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18. Gallus sonneratti [grey jungle fowl]
• Male plumage is different from other species
• “sealing wax” spots on rachis ;those that are
i.sub-terminal being white
ii.terminal spots being shredded and yellow.
• Occurs in neck hackle ,saddle, and wing coverts.
• Body feathers are black with a white shaft and a grey
border.
• Wing and tail feathers are black ; bird appears grey.
• Female plumage differs from RJF
i.In breast feathers which are white with broad
black/brown borders.
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20. Female - grey jungle fowl
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21. Gallus varius[green jungle fowl]
• Most primitive of four species
• Plumage consists of 16 tail feathers rather than 14 in other
species.
• Short truncate neck hackle feathers in males.
• Male plumage is glossy black , but hackle and saddle
feathers are edged with bronze and yellow imparting a
distinctly green coloration to the bird.
• In females feathers of the back and rump are
penciled(similar to dark Cornish),
i.upper breast feathers have dark edging ,
ii. lower breast feathers are pale and
iii.rest of the plumage has irregular barring.
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23. Female-green jungle fowl
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27. THANK YOU
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