CHARACTERIZATION OF EXOTIC CHICKEN PRODUCTION, REPRODUCTION, MARKETING SYSTEMS AND EGG QAULITY TRAITS IN DEMBA GOFA DISTRICT OF GOFA ZONE, SOUTHERN

Abstract

A cross sectional survey was conducted with the objectives of Characterizing Exotic chicken production, reproduction, marketing systems and egg quality traits in Demba Gofa district of Gofa Zone, southern Ethiopia.. A total of 149 randomly selected respondents were included in the study from six purposively selected kebeles from two Agro ecologies in different seasons. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In both agro ecologies 95.97% the respondents prefer to keep exotic breeds due to their high productivity. The feeding system indicates 95.3% of the respondents were using scavenging with additional supplements. Over 91.9% of the respondents used maize and wheat as additional supplements and mostly 47% feed three times a day. Most (56.4%) respondents have no market access to procure poultry production inputs. 71.8% of respondents have an access to extension service but they cannot get regular follow up in using extension system. Majority of the respondents (83.2%) did not get any training on improved chicken production practices. There was no provision of credit facility to the chicken owners for use of improved poultry production in the district. Women were more involved on chicken production activities than other family member’s. Most (65.1%) of respondents did not vaccinate their chicken. On the use of prophylactic treatment measures, 56.4% use both modern and traditional methods to control disease. most (81.9%) of respondents did not practice deworming of chickens in the district .The average eggs laid/year/bird was 246.2334.56 and 255.6535.25 eggs for Sasso and BB, respectively. Average age at first laying was 158.97±16.79 and 164.44±14.52 days for Sasso and BB, respectively. Mortality rate within 45 days in chicks rearing farm was 2.242.78 and 1.682.57 for Bovans Brown and Sasso, respectively. Average Daily body weight gain per chick from day old to 45 days of age (g) was 9.00.41and 8.160.73 for Sasso and BB. respectively. BB was superior for egg shape index, yolk height, albumin weight and albumin height than Sasso. Whereas Sasso breed score better than BB in egg weight, egg length and width and yolk color. External and internal egg quality traits were significantly (p<0.05) differs between agro ecologies except for albumin weight and height. Presence of diseases, improper service of veterinary doctors at village level and attacks of predators were listed as major constraints in both agro ecologies. Lastly, provision of health management (disease and vaccines), increasing access of production input, provision of technical guidance by experts and provision of training on improved poultry production were mentioned as options to improve chicken productivity in the study areas. The study showed good performance of improved chickens under village production system suggesting productivity could be increased through improved housing, feeding and health management across seasons. The market value also varies in two seasons.