Characterizing Chicken Production System and On-Farm Comparative Evaluation of Growth, Reproductive and Production Performance of Different Chicken Breeds in Western Amhara, Ethiopia

This study was carried out to generate base line information by characterizing chicken production system and evaluating growth, reproductive and production performance of Kuroiler, Sasso and Sasso-R chickens under farmers management condition in South Achefere, Banija and Fagita Lekoma districts of western Amhara. Production system characterization was carried out by both questionnaire survey and focus group discussion. In total 180 household were selected randomly and interviewed. Descriptive statistics and Generalized Linear Model procedures were used for analysis. For on-farm evaluation 216 households and three chicken breeds were used and evaluated for 45 weeks from December 2016 to October 2017. A Generalized Linear Model procedure of SAS 9.1, with the model including the effects of breed, location and breed-location interaction was used to evaluate the dependent variables. The result revealed that respondents keep chicken with a mean of 7.40±0.57 per household. From the flock composition the hen contributes the highest proportion (39.2%) followed by chicks (31.2%). Main purposes of keeping chicken in the study area were sale of egg and live adult chicken. Exotic breed was the first priority of chicken producers. Mean sexual maturity of local hen and cock was 24.95±0.269 and 23.56±0.36 weeks, respectively. Mean egg production performance of local chickens in the study area was 14.89±0.36 per clutch with a clutch length of 23.98±0.61 and 2.47±0.07 clutch cycle per year. The most preferred trait for the selection of breeding hen and breeding cock were egg production and body conformation, respectively. Breed-location interaction affects xviii the body weight and daily weight gain of both male and female chickens. Body weight of Sasso chicken at 12 weeks of female and male chickens respectively in South Achefere district was significantly higher than the other two districts and male Sasso attains a marketable weight at 20 weeks. The highest daily weight gain of female and male chicken was recorded for Kuroiler in South Achefere and for Sasso in South Achefere which is 22.60±1.59 and 28.67±1.73 gram/day respectively. Breed, location and breed-location interaction affects half-life egg production, hen day-egg production and egg weight of chicken. On half-life egg production of Sasso (112.2±3.53) and Kuroiler (115.18±4.69) in south Achefer and Kuroiler in Banja districts produced the highest egg production. Kuroiler in Banija district, Sasso and Sasso-R in South Achefere district were producing on average 187%, 180 and 150%, respectively, more eggs than nationally reported local chicken. The highest hen day egg production was recorded for Sasso in Achefer at week 36 but higher egg weight was recorded at week 44. Age at first lay of Kuroiler, Sasso and Sasso-R were between week 25.33 to 26.75. However, body weight at first lay of Sasso (1981.94±80.35 gram) and Kuroiler (1993.70±80.35 gram) in South Achefre district were higher. Growth, body weight and egg number are three most important traits of introduced/project flock. Therefore, Kuroiler and Sasso chicken are recommended to be reared because they have better growth and egg production performances and also further evaluation on production and reproduction performance of Kuroiler and Sasso breeds under different management system and their crosses with local chickens is important.