Village chicken production constraints and Opportunities in Western Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia (original) (raw)
Related papers
Participatory evaluation of chicken health and production constraints in Ethiopia
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
The study was designed to determine the effects of chicken ecotypes, sex and their interaction on carcass performances of local chicken ecotypes in their natural environments of western zone of Tigray. Forty eight matured local chickens with 24 females (8 / ecotype) and 24 males (8 /ecotype) with age ranging from 10-12 months were purchased for carcass trait evaluation. Chickens were immediately slaughtered and defeathered manually after the purchased chickens were deprived of feed and water over night and weighted to get the actual live, carcass and carcass cuts of each chicken using a Sensitive balance of weighing scale of one gram precision. GLM procedure of SAS 9.2 was employed to determine the effects of chicken ecotypes, sex and their interaction on carcass traits of the local chickens. Tukey test was used to compare significant traits. Male chickens performed significantly (P<0.05) higher than females in all carcass traits. Lowland chicken ecotypes had significantly performed better than either of the rest two chicken ecotypes in all considered carcass traits except skin weight. Sex by chicken ecotypes interaction had significant effect in all considered traits (p<0.05). Both chicken sexes from lowland ecotypes significantly performed higher than their respective counter parts from either of the two ecotypes in almost all considered carcass traits. The variation in carcass trait performance among the chicken ecotypes is an indicator of their genetic variation with respect to carcass traits. In depth further studies on molecular assessment of genetic variations are required to validate the detected variations in carcass performances. Thus, environmentally friendly and community based holistic genetic improvement programs should be designed and implemented in order to assure sustainable improvement, utilization and in-situ conservation of the indigenous chicken genetic resources.
The study was conducted in four woredas (Damot Gale,Of a, Angacha and Hadero Tunto) the first two of them found in Wolaita zone and two of them in Kambata Tambaro Zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia respectively. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the study areas to assess village chicken production systems, productive and reproductive performance of village chicken and identifying constraints to village chicken production. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 240 farming households and administer a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The results showed that the mean age of interviewed farmers was 37.8±9.3 years; average family size & chicken owned per household were 6.8±2.4 persons and 8.6±1.7 heads, respectively. There was no significant differences (p ≥0.05) found among the four woredas in all the above traits. The average number of clutch and eggs per hen per year of local chicken in the study areas were 4±0.87 and 12.9±3.47 respectively.
Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Production and Utilization in Western Oromia, Ethiopia
The survey was conducted in Western Oromia to investigate the production and utilization indigenous village chicken under small scale farmers for future genetic improvement. Purposive sampling technique was used focusing on accessibility and chicken production potential. A total of 100 farmers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. The overall mean of chicken flock size per household was 9.3+0.7. The results of the study showed that the main production system of indigenous chicken was free scavenging (50%) with supplement grains based on availability and scarcity of feeds. The majority of the respondents (78%) were reared indigenous chickens for income generation while 20% and 2% for household consumption and religious purposes. About 87% respondents select their indigenous chicken for breeding based on feather color, egg production, body size, comb and wattle shape, respectively. Newcastle disease (Fungile) and predators were reported as major bottlenecks to chicken production. We suggest capacity building for farmers and extension staff in areas of feeding, health and record keeping for improved production and productivity of indigenous chickens.
Village Chicken Production and Marketing in West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2016
Chicken production in West Gojjam zone was characterized by using indigenous chicken with low input-output level. Despite its diverse socio economic role for smallholder farmers, production and productivity of village chicken was very low. As the result, chicken producers were not benefited from the sector. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of characterizing chicken rearing practice, flock dynamics and determining the off-take rate of village chicken production system. It was conducted in West Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select representative respondents. A total of 500 farmers were interviewed. In the study area, the average numbers of local and exotic chickens kept by smallholder producers were 8.44+0.42 and 0.49+0.10chicken, respectively with the overall mean 8.93+0.42chicken. The flock structure was highly dominated by young chicks (3.82+0.28) and hen (2.47+0.09). The average chicken migrated into the flock per household per annum was 10.32+ 0.80 birds, whereas the outflow from the flock was 16.62+0.85birds. The number of chicken was higher at the middle of the year than the beginning and end of the year. On average, 2.9+0.12 layer chickens were kept per household. From which, in average 307.2+ 20.2 eggs were produced from local and improved breed in a year. Marketing in the district and PA were important marketing places for egg and live birds with the off-take rate of 34.94%. To improve chicken production in the study area, adaptive improved chicken breed should be introduced. Strategic vaccination, semi scavenging practices should be introduced and promoted in order to reduce chicken mortality. Capacity building through training and intensive follow up should also be made in order to enhance the level of awareness of smallholders on improved small scale poultry keeping practices.
Village chicken production systems in Metekel zone, Northwest Ethiopia
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Metekel zone, Northwest of Ethiopia to assess village chicken production systems, productive and reproductive performance of village chicken and identifying constraints to village chicken production. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 160 farming households and administer a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The average flock size per household was 13.68±0.62. Only 48% of chicken owners prepared a separate overnight houses/shelters for birds. The average age of indigenous pullets and cockerels at first mating was 5.2±1.16 and 5.44±1.3 months, respectively. The total number of clutches/hen/year was 4.29±0.17 with an average of 13.56±0.26 eggs/clutch. The average egg hatchability was 84.74%. Seasonal disease outbreaks, mainly Newcastle disease, and predation were the major causes of chicken loss in the districts. Household division of labor engages women more on various chicken husbandry activities. Respondents prioritized lack of credit service, limited skill of management practices and low productivity of the local chicken as major constraints to chicken production. Thus, technical and institutional interventions are very crucial to alleviate the prevailing constraints and transform the existing traditional/subsistence chicken production system to semi-commercial production system in the study area.
2012
The study was conducted to assess the status and constraints of village poultry production in Metema district, northwestern Ethiopia, using questionnaire survey on 75 households and field observation. The information obtained from the questionnaire survey revealed that 84% of the respondents were known to rear at least one bird for family consumption and as the means of generating income. Most (66.7%) of the respondents indicated that the average egg per single laying period was 15 eggs and after that the bird becomes broody during the rest of the times. The average age at maturity for egg laying or for household meat consumption was also greater than three months in more than 90% of the respondents. In almost 72% of the cases; it was females responsible to takecare of poultry. Only 69% of the respondents used to supplement poultry with cereals like sorghum during early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Only 29.33% of the respondents prepared traditional housing system destined for their poultry. Only 26.90% of the respondents were found to have improved breed types (Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn) unlike the fact that nearly 61.90% of the respondents having local breeds. Guinea fowl was also reared by some of the respondents (11.11%). All respondents have indicated high mortality rates during months of February, March, April and May. A diarrhoeic disease syndrome locally named as Fengil was attributed for losses due to mortality. Predators were also indicated as significant cause of loss of poultry next to losses due to disease. Lack of improved breeds, low level of housing and feeding management as well as absence of well equipped veterinary service were understood as the most important constraints hampering poultry production in the area. Therefore, integrated approach has to be considered to enhance the contribution of poultry in food security.
The study was conducted to characterize village chicken production and husbandry practices in Dedo district, Jimma zone of Southwest Ethiopia. Three different agro-ecologies (high, mid and lowlands) of the district were purposively selected based on poultry population and accessibility. Stratified probability random sampling method was followed to select two peasant associations (PA) from each of the three agro-ecology and 30 households from each of the six PAs. Thus a total of 180 (6x30) households were used to collect the required data for the study. About 96.1% of the chicken found in the study area belongs to the Ethiopian non-descriptive indigenous breeds of chickens. The remaining, 3.9% and 0.6% are cross and exotic breeds, respectively. Even though village chicken production is an essential part of livestock production in the study area, there is a poor management practices such as poor feeding, improper housing, unimproved breeding methods and meager health care has been given for the chicken; so that the producers might not be benefited from the production. Since there is available high demand towards chicken and eggs in the study area, the sector should be improved through provision of appropriate intervention in health care, provision of better extension service, credit schemes and training opportunities. Further investigation into the constraints and potential of indigenous chicken based village poultry in the study area is highly encouraged.
African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2010
A survey was conducted in Bure district, North West Ethiopia, from 2007 to 2008 to assess the existing village chicken production system. A participatory rural appraisal and a formal survey were used to collect all the relevant data, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Seven farmer administrative kebeles (two from high land, three from mid altitude and two from low land agro-ecologies) and a total of 280 village chicken owner households were considered for the study. The result revealed that the dominant (83%) chicken production system was an extensive/traditional type of production, using a majority (97%) of local chicken ecotypes, managed mainly on scavenging with seasonal supplementation of home grown grains and household food leftovers. The purposes of chicken production were sale for income (51.4%), egg hatching for replacement (45%), consumption (44.3%), use of birds for cultural and/or religious ceremonies (36.4%) and egg production (40.7%). The average flock size per hou...
Greener Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 2014
The survey was conducted in Eastern Gojjam Zone of Amhara regional state, North Ethiopia from January to June, 2013 to generate base line information on chicken production under farmer's management condition. Of total, 83% of respondents practiced free ranging type chicken production system with conditional feed supplementation and frequent water supply. Despite the largest concern was given for female households, males also involved in chicken management activities aiming for household consumption and income generation. The mean flock size per household was found to be 13 and 5 for local and crossbred chickens, respectively. Almost all farmers in the tested districts provided night shelter for their chickens, and majority (91%) of them have experience of culling undesired chicken from the flock. From this study, the mean number of eggs laid was 18 eggs per/hen/clutch. Most chicken keepers in the study area had experience of selecting and incubating eggs for hatching using broody hens as a sole means of natural incubation. The average number of eggs set for incubation was 13 per broody hen, from which relatively fair number (83%) of chicks were hatched and 67% were grown well. Seasonal disease outbreak (100%) followed by predators (89%) was considered the largest threat to chicken production. Moreover, traditional management (83%), limitation of improved breed availability and lack of extension and chicken health services (86.7%) were the major constraints of chicken production in the study area. Therefore, holistic extension services such as applying breed and management improvement methods, besides to supplying chicken health service strategies are highly recommended in the study area for further improvement of chicken production under farmer's management condition.
International Journal of Agricultural Extension
The main objective of this study was to describe the production systems, productive performances and associated constraints of indigenous chicken populations in Kaffa Zone. From ten districts of Kaffa Zone, three districts were purposively selected based on their potential for indigenous chicken population and accessibility. From each rural kebeles those households who possess a minimum of five mature indigenous chicken were purposively selected. Then, data on both qualitative and quantitative variables were collected from 300 purposively selected households using a semi-structured questioner. The results indicated that majority of the respondent were female (71.1%) and 56% of them were illiterate. The average family size per household was 5.86. Farmers mainly keep their chickens in the kitchen (60.7%) and main houses (30.7 %). Maize (55.7 %) and sorghum (20.3 %) were the major feed supplements provided by the households. The average chicken flock size, age at first egg (months), av...