On-Farm Performance Evaluation of Exotic Chicken Strains and Improved Horro and Characterization of Chicken Production System in Darolebu and Haramaya Districts, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

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Abstract:

The study was conducted in Darolebu and Haramaya districts of eastern Oromia with the objective of characterising chicken production system and evaluating production performances of Sasso x RIR, Koekoek and improved Horro chickens under village production system for 44 weeks. For the characterization of the chicken production system data were collected from 118 households through semi-structured and structured questionnaires while 144 households were included for on-farm performance evaluation of the three chicken stains. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and SAS 9.3 The study result revealed that,respondent’s maintain a large proportion of layers (37.33% in Haramaya and 48.7% in Darolabu) in their flock as compared to other classes. The main purposes of producing poultry were egg sales, egg consumption and meat consumption in their order of importance.. For the majority of respondents’ sources of foundation, stock was purchase from the market. Almost all of the respondents in the study area practice housing system in the night but during the day free range were the common practice (no housing). Average Ages of sexual maturity of hens and cocks were 24.93±4.33 and, 24.51±4.35 weeks. The major reason of culling chickens in the study area was poor egg production followed by old age. Selection criteria used for selection of breeding hen for Haramaya district were egg productivity, body size /weight, hatching whereas in Darolabu district body size, body feather and growth rate in their order of importance, However, Selections of breeding cock were mainly based on comb type and Body size. Body weight was significantly (p

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On-Farm Performance Evaluation of Exotic Chicken Strains and Improved Horro and Characterization of Chicken Production System in Darolebu and Haramaya Districts, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

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