Demonstration and Performance Evaluation of Dual Purpose "Potchefstroom koekoek" Chickens Under Farmers’ Management Conditions in the High Land Areas of Arsi zone, Oromiya Region

Mulualem Ambaw

doi:10.7176/jesd/12-1-04

Abstract

The study was conducted to demonstrate and evaluate performance of dual purpose Potchefstroom koekoek chicken with full package under farmers’ management system in the highland areas of Arsi zone, Oromia Region.A total of 18 farmers were selected purposively based on previous experience in poultry rearing, willingness to construct or modify poultry house, access to market and research input availability. Training was given on all chicken management aspects. A total of 55 day-old chickens with other packages were delivered to each participant farmer in Tiyo and Sagure. Data was collected starting from day one following chicken delivery up to start of the first egg lay and continued until 72 week of age. The current study revealed that on average 9.4% and 5.8% of mortality was recorded per participant farmer up to eight weeks of age at Sagure and Tiyo District respectively. 202.3 days (6.7month) and 1.46 kg body weight was recorded on average for first egg lay. The daily percentage of hen- housed egg production per participant farmers was 41.7% at 50 %( 32week) and 69.7% at 52weeks of age with average egg weight of 49.8g and 51.7g respectively. Per participant farmer, on average 1244 birr was expended for purchase inputs and 5500.33 birr was gained from sale of egg, cockerels and replacement chickens as net income. The farmers became aware of the importance of the breed that adapted well under the existing farmers' management condition and performed better than indigenous breeds for egg and meat production. Keywords : koekoek chickens, demonstration, on farm evaluation, mortality DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-1-04 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Highlights

In most part of Ethiopia, village chicken represents a significant component of the rural household livelihood as a source of cash income for immediate household expenses and nutrition
High mortality was observed during brooding period at Sagure District because of very low temperature during distribution of chicks and employing of locally made chick brooding materials that was inefficient in protection of the transpired very low temperature
The mortality rate observed in this study was lower as compared to study of koekoek demonstration packages at Jima zone in Oromiya region, Areka area in SNNPR and Fayoumi chicks in Arsi – Negele district where 35.9%, 20.2% and 76.82% mortality was reported by Kasa &Saba (2016), Aman et al (2016) and Samson et al (2013) respectively

Summary

Introduction

In most part of Ethiopia, village chicken represents a significant component of the rural household livelihood as a source of cash income for immediate household expenses and nutrition. Production of both egg and chicken meat has certainly assisted in reducing the gap in the supplies of animal protein for human consumption In Ethiopia, indigenous poultry breeds produce eggs that are used for income generation and consumption, but their eggs production potential are invariably small as compared with those of exotic breeds. Lack of recorded data on the productive performance of chicken makes it difficult to assess the importance and contributions of the past attempts to improve the sector (Moges et al, 2010a)

Methods

Results

Conclusion