Inbreeding, or mating closely related chickens, can be used to breed Ayam Ketawa, a local Indonesian chicken breed known for its distinctive crow, to preserve and standardize genetic traits, including vocalizations. However, the practice must be carefully planned and accompanied by strict selection to prevent a decline in the biological quality of the offspring.
Head of the Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Animal Science UGM), Professor Dyah Maharani, explained that inbreeding can be used when breeders seek to preserve certain characteristics, such as vocalizations, vocal types, body conformation, feather color, or other traits. It is used to increase genetic uniformity, and its success depends on the quality of the selected breeding stock.
“Inbreeding does not automatically produce superior offspring. This method primarily increases genetic uniformity. Its success depends greatly on the quality of the selected breeding stock and the thoroughness of the selection process,” she explained on Wednesday (Oct. 7).
According to Professor Maharani, mating inbreeding chickens can increase the likelihood that offspring will receive the same allele from both parents. This increases homozygosity, making certain traits more uniform in later generations.
In ayam ketawa breeding, inbreeding can be directed toward preserving specific vocal characteristics, crowing patterns or types, vocal quality, body shape, or appearance traits that characterize a particular breed or line. However, this can bring out harmful recessive genes.
“A chicken may carry a recessive allele that is not visible in its phenotype. When two chickens carrying the same recessive allele mate, their offspring are more likely to inherit the recessive allele from both parents. As a result, previously hidden genetic traits or disorders may emerge in the offspring,” she explained.
She likened inbreeding to a method that increases bringing out the “genetic contents” of a lineage, whether beneficial or detrimental. In addition to the emergence of certain genetic traits or disorders, excessive inbreeding without proper management can also lead to inbreeding depression.
Refers to a decline in biological performance resulting from increased homozygosity and can lead to poor growth, reduced resistance to disease, low fertility or hatchability, smaller body size, weak chick vitality, and an increased likelihood of certain disorders.
“The closer the genetic relationship and the longer inbreeding is carried out without proper selection and management, the greater the risk,” Professor Maharani said.
Furthermore, Professor Maharani emphasized that the goal of ayam ketawa breeding is not merely to “increase” “ pure” chickens, but to produce healthy and productive offspring with consistently desirable characteristics. Breeders need to select breeding stock based on offspring records and the genetic relationships resulting from mating in each generation.
In addition to selecting for vocal characteristics, breeders must consider the offspring’s health, fertility, hatchability, growth, and vitality.
Regular evaluation is necessary to ensure offspring quality genuinely improves rather than declines.
“Inbreeding is a breeding tool, not the ultimate goal. When used deliberately and paired with strict selection, inbreeding can strengthen and standardize desirable characteristics in ayam ketawa. However, when carried out without proper control, the same method can increase the emergence of undesirable traits and reduce the biological quality of chickens,” she concluded.
Contributor: Satria/Animal Science UGM Public Relations
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Animal Science UGM Public Relations Documentation and Panennews