Abstract
The African Chicken Genetic Gain (ACGG) project (https://africacgg.net/) aims at backyard poultry optimization by commercial dual-purpose breeds introduction into Africa. To measure benefits, genotype by environment interaction (GxE) analysis provides guidance while predicting environmental effects on production traits of breeds. A survey among Ethiopian poultry smallholders showed egg sale being the most important purpose of keeping village chickens in Oromia. Data was available about laying of 894 ACGG chickens in Oromia. Hence current research questions were: 1) Does GxE take place? 2) Which breed performs best regarding laying and in which environment within Oromia? Traits investigated were egg number and egg weight of five breeds (S-RIR, Sasso, Horro, Kuroiler and Koekoek) located in three zones (East Hararge, East and West Shoa) and 5 districts (Adami Tulu, Bako Tibe, Dano, Dugda and Haromaya) in Oromia. Observations were taken as group measure performing weighted analyses. GxE was only present for egg number with magnitude strongest for zone. S-RIR performed best for both traits in both environments, except Kuroiler performing better in East Shoa for egg number and Koekoek for egg weight. This indicates success of crossbreed S-RIR. Sasso and Horro performed worst supported by previous research for Horro but not Sasso. Low precipitation in East Shoa caused bigger distance in egg number predictions, being higher for S-RIR and lower for Horro and Sasso compared to West Shoa. Apart from these final conclusions, social context of breeding and data collection difficulties should not be forgotten. Just like relevance of other performance trait analyses.
Highlights
Smallholder farming plays major socio-economic roles in developing countries with high percentage of African families reliant on it
Results showed Koekoek followed by S-RIR breed and West Shoa zone having the highest predicted egg weight
These findings are supported by Hartman (1990) stating more serious consequences of GxE present for egg production traits, large effects expected for laying rate
Summary
Smallholder farming plays major socio-economic roles in developing countries with high percentage of African families reliant on it. Much present in Africa, shows positive contribution to these families (FAO, 2014, Vernooij et al, 2018). Livestock keeping generates 38.5% of income of Ethiopian poultry keeping households (Goromela et al, 2019). A challenge is the rising animal protein demand, with 70-80% expected increase from 2012 to 2050 and poultry expected to be the biggest component but having least environmental impact (Alexandratos et al, 2006, Oonincx and de Boer, 2012, Alexandratos and Bruinsma, 2012). Multidisciplinary research supports local adaptation and tailoring of sustainable poultry production for Ethiopian smallholders being relevant for flexible implementation (Bettridge et al, 2018). For previously mentioned reasons, investigating optimization of African smallholder poultry production is relevant. The African Chicken Genetic Gain (ACGG) project (https://africacgg.net/), led by
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