A genetic study of the buff columbian color pattern in Prat chickens.

The genetic basis for plumage color in the Prat fowl, a spanish breed with columbian restricted pattern, was studied, and results of crosses between the Prat and a recessive wheaten tester line (ey/ey co+/co+) or the Castellana breed (E/E), showed that it carries a wheaten allele at the E locus. Crosses between the Prat and the Light Brown Leghorn (e+/e+ co+/co+) or the Brown (eb/eb co+/co+) tester lines showed that the wheaten allele is the dominant one (ewh). These crosses suggested that the brown allele (eb) is also present at low frequency. The dominant columbian restriction gene (Co) seems to be involved in the Prat breed, interacting with the dominant wheaten allele to produce the characteristic plumage of the breed. Results of crosses between the Prat and the Vasca, another Spanish breed with gold columbian restricted pattern and ewh/ewh Co/Co genotype showed that they both differ by one major gene affecting phaeomelanin intensity. The Prat breed is well characterized by the orange buff down and by the ginger red adult plumage.