by: Marco Felix Valdez April 7, 2019 Native chickens are among the less recognized yet highly potential species in the country. Philippine native chicken strains include the Basilan of Mindanao, Darag of Western Visayas, Camarines of Bicol Region, Paraokan of Palawan, Bolinao of Pangasinan, and the Banaba of Batangas. Banaba originated from Bauan and Batangas City of Batangas province and considered as a popular strain together with Paroakan. Let's discuss Phenotypic, Biochemical, and Morphologic characters of the Banaba native Chicken.

1. Philippine Native Chicken:
The BANABA CHICKEN of CALABARZON
By: MARCO FELIX S. VALDEZ, BS Agriculture
Cavite State University
April 07, 2019
In 2017, it is recorded that the poultry industry contributed PhP 59.3 billion to the
Gross National Income. There are 181.05 million heads in national inventory consisting
of 64.03 million heads of broiler and 35.66 million heads of the layer. 81.36% of the
chicken population in the Philippines is our own native chicken. (PSA, 2017)
Native chickens are among the less recognized yet highly potential species in the
country. They have the ability to grow, adapt and reproduce despite adverse climatic
conditions and low production inputs. Compared to local breeds, endemic or indigenous
breeds are more resistant to parasites and diseases. It is also a part of socio-cultural

2. practices and solution to everyday challenges-from rituals, festivities, and recreational
activities. (PNAD, 2016)
Adaptability, disease resistance and contribution to gross national income are the
major qualities of Philippine native chickens (Lambio, 2000). Santiago, Lambio, and
Dimaranan (2016) and Bondoc (2008) identified the Philippine native chicken strains, that
include the Basilan of Mindanao, Darag of Western Visayas, Camarines of Bicol Region,
Paraokan of Palawan, Bolinao of Pangasinan, and the Banaba of Batangas.
Bondoc (2008) further elaborated that Banaba originated from Bauan and
Batangas City of Batangas province, and considered as a popular strain together with
Paroakan. According to FAO (2012), Banaba or Banaba Labuyo is reported to have
resistance against fowl pox and respiratory diseases. Also, hens are recognized as an
excellent mother. Lastly, these chickens are very popular as the game breed in the
country.
Besbes et al. 2007), locally adapted populations are often maintained in small populations
and the loss of these genetic resources is still happening by replacement with modern
industrial stocks. Most of these indigenous breeds are not well characterized, and
monitoring them as poultry genetic resources will be difficult.
In the Philippines, several studies were already conducted that focuses on
production, management, and profiling of Banaba native chicken strain. However, only
limited research studies have been conducted to determine the phenotypic and
biochemical characteristics of Banaba native chicken strain.

3. Banaba, The Native Chicken Strain of Batangas
In the Philippines, several studies were
already conducted that focuses on production,
management, and profiling of Banaba native chicken
strain. In the study conducted Dominguez et al.
(2017) Banaba raised under the free-range system
are comparable in meat quality and lean color
compared to commercial broiler chicken. According
to Lopez (2016), 18 weeks old Banaba are more marketable compared to Paraokan and
Bolinao group, and total live weight and gross income of Banaba and Paraokan group
were greater than Bolinao group. Santiago et al. (2016) concluded that Banaba x Single
Comb Leghorn egg qualities may be difficult to improve through cross-breeding. Lambio,
Bondoc and Grecia (1997) described that Banaba has the highest average daily gain
during brooding and growing stage, and lowest mortality during the brooding period
compared other four genetic groups of Philippine Native Chickens. However, only limited
research studies have been conducted to determine the biological characteristics of
Banaba native chicken strain.
Therefore, conducting such research specifically in the Province of Batangas, that
is believed to be the center of origin of Banaba is highly recommended. The study is in
line with the Department of Agriculture: Philippine Native Animal Development Admin.
Order No. 15 Series 2010 that seeks to develop policies and initiatives to develop
sustainable conservation, production, and marketing of native animals.

4. Phenotypic Characterization of Native Chicken
According to FAO (2012), phenotypic
characterization is the process of
identifying characteristic or
observable attributes of an organism
to document diversity within and
between distinct breeds. Phenotypic
studies on non-descript or traditional animal populations are important to determine
animal genetic resources. This results in the standardization of the breeds nationally and
internationally.
There is wide variability in respect of performance in our native chickens. The
improvement of domestic animals including chickens to meet human needs is dependent
on variations (variations within and between strain). Such variation among individuals or
groups of chickens gives room and opportunity for breeding and selection (Faruque,
Siddiquee, Afroz, and Islam, 2010).
Intensive research studies about the phenotypic characterization of other
Philippine native chickens have already been established. This includes Darag (Cabarles,
2013), Paraokan (Lopez et al., 2013), Basilan (Rivero, 2014), and Boholano (Salces et
al., 2015). Limited work pertaining to the qualitative and quantitative phenotypic profiles
of Banaba was carried out.
The performance of Banaba strain under intensive management condition was
recorded by Lambio et al, (1998) and Lambio (2000). The results were: day old weight
(26 g), adult male weight (2.44 kg), adult female weight (1.44 kg), age at first egg (157

5. day old), (egg weight 40g), egg shape index (73.7 g), hen’s day egg production (25.4),
fertility % (86.6%), and average daily gain (10.3 g/day).
According to Bondoc (2008) Banaba strain have a single comb (comb type) , bright
red (earlobe color), slate color (feet color), reddish yellow with black tail and wing feather
(male plumage color), brown like a red jungle fowl (female plumage color), and bright
orange (hackles color).
Biochemical Characterization of Native Chicken
In native chickens, Roxas, Villanueva, and Lambio (1997) started conducting
research about the protein and isoenzyme polymorphisms of five genetic groups of native
chicken and results shows that indigenous chicken of Batangas and Laguna have the
high genetic identity, meaning they have the higher degree of differentiation. Lambio and
Barrion (1998) also studied protein polymorphism and noted that banaba has 55% pre-
albumin and 55% in Transferrin.
Biochemical parameters provide valuable information about the physiological and
habitat conditions of animals for disease assessments (Hernandez et al., 1990). A study
implies that blood parameters could serve as a baseline data, which could be exploited
in the diagnosis of healthy chickens, combating diseases, improvement of the desirable
breeds as well as for designing appropriate breeding strategies for poultry birds in the
country. (Dutta, Islam, Kabir, 2013)
Recent studies have been conducted to determine hematological and biochemical
profiles of chickens. The hematological profile parameters include total counts (TC) of
Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, White Blood Cell (WBC), platelets, hemoglobin percentage

6. (Hb%) and ESR and differential counts (DC) of WBC included neutrophils, eosinophils,
lymphocytes, monocytes, and basophils. While vital biochemical parameters are blood
sera such as cholesterol, calcium, glucose, creatinine, and urea.
Based on the results of the finding of Dutta et al. ( 2013) the hematological profile
of the exotic and indigenous chicken breed of Bangladesh are RBC count (2.42±0.086
mg/dl), WBC count (2.30±0.03 mg/dl), and platelet count (43.38±0.873 mg/dl). While
Kalita et al (2018) study on blood analysis of broiler and indigenous chicken of India were:
total cholesterol (180.91±6.49 mg/dl) and total protein (4.36±0.05 mg/dl). And lastly,
Iritanti et al (2014) data results on native chicken of Indonesia biochemical profile are:
High-density lipoprotein (12.20±3.06 mg/dl), Low-Density Lipoprotein (158.07±8.84
mg/dl), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (19.39±0.60 mg/dl) and Triglyceride (106.7 ± 13.6
mg/dl)

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