Village Chicken Production Systems in Selected Areas of Benishangul-Gumuz, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Benishangul-gumuz regional state, western Ethiopia, to characterize village chicken production systems in these areas, identify the major constraints limiting chicken production and suggest the required development interventions for future improvement. One special district (Mao-komo) and two zones (Assosa and Kamash) representing the highland, mid-altitude and lowland areas of the region, respectively were selected for the study. A total of 144 households were selected from the three sites and individually interviewed using pretested structured questionnaire in their respective farms. Stratified sampling technique was used to select the households. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and one-way ANOVA of SPSS software. The results revealed that an average chicken flock size per household in the study areas was 7.7. Maize, sorghum and house-wastes were the main supplementary feed resources used by chicken and farmers noted that they face feed shortage problem for feeding their chicken during the wet season, feed availability was relatively better during dry season. About 54.9% of the sample respondents had separated shelters made of locally available materials for housing chicken. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in productive and reproductive performances of chicken in the study areas. The average ages of chicken at first egg production were 29.6, 28 and 28.8 weeks, respectively at Assosa, Kamash and Mao-komo. The overall average number of clutch per year was 2.6, length of inter-clutch was 2.9 weeks and eggs per clutch were 9.9 (ranging from 11-16). Newcastle was the most prevalent economically important disease affecting chicken in the study areas. In conclusion, the chicken production system in the study areas is extensive where feeding is mainly scavenging with occasional supplementation with cereals with consequent low production and reproductive performances.

Production and reproduction performance of local chicken breeds and their marketing practices in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…The mean age of the respondents in the present study was similar to the 41.9 years reported by Desta and Wakeyo (2010) but higher than the 35.2 years reported by Alemayehu et al (2015) in Benishangul-Gumuz region, Western Ethiopia. The average total family size per household in the present study was similar to the 7.0 persons per household reported by Desta and Wakeyo (2010); comparable to the 6.95 persons per household reported by Mokennen (2007) in Dale Wosho and Loka Abaya, but higher than the 5.2 (national average) and 6.4 (in Benishangul-Gumuz region, Western Ethiopia) persons per household reported by Central Agricultural Census Commission of Ethiopia (CACC) (2009) and Alemayehu et al (2015), respectively.…”

“…The chicken population of the country was at estimated 56.87 million of which 95.86% are local breeds, 2.79% hybrid breeds and 1.35% exotic breeds (Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), 2013). Traditional/village chicken production system is the dominant system practiced by almost every rural household (Alemayehu et al, 2015) and covers more than 90% of the total chicken meat and egg produced in Ethiopia (Dana et al, 2010).…”

Exotic chicken production performance, status and challenges in Ethiopia

“…Predators such as birds of prey (locally known as "Culullee") (34%), cats and dogs (16.3%) and wild animals (15%) were identifi ed as the major causes of village poultry in rift valley of Oromia, Ethiopia [50]. Another study from Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Western Ethiopia done by [43] extension [54].…”

“…Poultry products in most developing countries, especially in Africa, are still expensive. The marketing system is generally informal and poorly developed [43]. Poultry marketing structure has not well studied in Ethiopia.…”

Major Constraints and Health Management of Village Poultry Production in Ethiopia: Review School of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

“…Another study from Benishangul-Gumuz, Western Ethiopia done by Alemayehu et al, (2015) reported that wild cat (locally known as ""shelemetmat""), eagle and foxes were the common chicken predators identified by the chicken owners in the study areas. Eagle is a serious problem in dry season while the rest are commonly attacking chicken during wet season.…”