Association of Dihydrotestosterone with Crowing Complexity Traits in Kokok Balenggek Roosters

This study investigated the relationship between dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and crowing complexity in 60 Kokok Balenggek roosters. The research found that higher DHT levels were negatively associated with the number of "lenggek" phrases and syllable count in the roosters' crowing, as shown by Poisson and multiple linear regression analyses. Spearman correlations supported these findings, and a principal component analysis-derived complexity index also indicated reduced crowing complexity at higher DHT levels. These results suggest that DHT is a significant endocrine factor influencing crowing complexity in this indigenous chicken breed, highlighting the importance of standardized vocal phenotyping in poultry research.