10/02/2023
HERITAGE CHICKEN BREEDS OF THE PHILIPPINES
“Each phenotypic or genetic group has evolved unique characteristics and traits best-suited to a particular locale,” explains Dr. Jaime Cabarles Jr., Dean of the College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences at the Central Philippine University in Iloilo City.
This usually makes native fowl far more resistant to diseases, pests, predators and unpredictable weather than imported breeds, resulting in lower mortalities.
The country has many other breeds, including the Bisaya, Boholano, Camarines and Zampen. These and other native strains come with several distinctive advantages for poultry operators. The first is that native chickens are excellent foragers and require minimal feed inputs when set loose over good ground.
Below are the five of the most popular native chicken breeds in the Philippines.
© Gregg Yan
