Productive and Reproductive Performances and Status of Chicken Breeds in Two Districts of South-Omo Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study targeted the productive and reproductive performance and status of breeds was conducted in two districts of the South-Omo zone, Ethiopia. A purposive sampling method was used to select districts, kebeles, and households and then, stratified to local, exotic, and mixed-breed rearing households. The composition of pullets (3.603), chicks (3.5), and layers (3.39) were highest than that of Cockerels (2.107) and Cocks (1.79). The more eggs/clutch/hen (26.2), the highest matured body weight (3.26 Kg), and the fast age of sexual maturity (5.4 months) were recorded for exotic breeds than the hybrid and local. The hatchability difference was due to the difference in broody hen, egg source, egg duration, egg size, and the season of hatching. The traits such as mothering ability, disease resistance, and production with conditional supplementation of the local breed were diluted. The productive and reproductive performance of the local ecotypes was low and the improved breeds not expressed their full genetic potential. The population of local breeds was diluted and decreased, antagonistically, that of the exotic breeds is increasing, and if it is not terminated near future we will lose distinctive traits of local breeds. Hence, regular supplementation of feed and conservation of exploiting genes were recommended to exploit the full genetic potential of breeds and sustain the diluting genes of local breeds, respectively.