Ayam Cemani

Ayam Cemani

Cemani Hen
Country of origin Indonesia
Traits
Weight Male: 2–3 kg
  Female: 1.5–2 kg
Skin color Black
Egg color Cream
Comb type Single
Classification
Chicken
Gallus gallus domesticus
Cemani Rooster

Ayam Cemani are uncommon and relatively modern breed of chicken from Indonesia. They have dominant gene that causes hyperpigmentation (Fibromelanosis), making the chicken entirely black; including feathers, beak, and internal organs.

Etymology

Ayam means "chicken" in Bahasa Indonesia. Cemani denotes the village, where this breed of chicken originates from, on the island of Java.

Origin

The breed originated from the island of Java, Indonesia and have probably been used for centuries for religious and mystical purpose. The breed was first described by Dutch colonial settlers[1] and first imported to Europe in 1998 by Dutch breeder Jan Steverink. Currently, these breed of chicken are currently kept in the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It is thought that Ayam Cemani may have also been brought to Europe by Dutch seamen.[2]

Description

The birds are completely black: black plumage with a greenish shine, black legs and toe nails, black beak and tongue, black comb and wattles; even their meat, bones and organs appear black. The blood of the Ayam Cemani is normal (though it is remarkably dark).The birds' black colour occurs as a result of excess pigmentation of the tissues, caused by a genetic condition known as fibromelanosis.[3] This gene is also found in some other black fowl breeds.[4][5] The roosters weigh 2–2.5 kg and the hens from 1.5–2 kg. The hens lay cream-colored eggs with a slight pink tint, although they are poor setters and rarely hatch their own brood. Eggs weigh an average of 45 g.[6]

Individual birds in the United States of America have been priced at $2500.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lukanov, H. A. Genchev (2013). "Fibromelanosis in domestic chickens" (PDF). Agricultural Sciences and Technology 5 (3): 239–246.
  2. ↑ European Poultry Society
  3. ↑ Ai Shinomiya, Yasunari Kayashima, Keiji Kinoshita, Makoto Mizutani, Takao Namikawa, Yoichi Matsuda, and Toyoko Akiyama (2012). "Gene Duplication of endothelin 3 Is Closely Correlated with the Hyperpigmentation of the Internal Organs (Fibromelanosis) in Silky Chickens". Genetics 190 (2): 627–638. doi:10.1534/genetics.111.136705. PMC 3276631. PMID 22135351.
  4. ↑ Dorshorst B, Molin A-M, Rubin C-J, Johansson AM, Strömstedt L; et al. (2011). "A Complex Genomic Rearrangement Involving the Endothelin 3 Locus Causes Dermal Hyperpigmentation in the Chicken". PLoS Genetics 7 (12): e1002412. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002412.
  5. ↑ Arora G, Mishra SK, Nautiyal B, Pratap SO, Gupta A, Beura CK, Singh DP (2011). "Genetics of hyperpigmentation associated with the Fibromelanosis gene (Fm) and analysis of growth and meat quality traits in crosses of native Indian Kadaknath chickens and non-indigenous breeds". Br. Poult. Sci. 52 (6): 675–85. doi:10.1080/00071668.2011.635637.
  6. ↑ Ayam Cemani
  7. ↑ Yahoo News
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