ASSESSING THE EGG PRODUCTION AND EGG QUALITY TRAITS OF SASSO CHICKEN BREED REARED UNDER TRADITIONAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICES IN MIDLAND AND LOWLAND AGROECOLOGIES OF ALETA CHUKO DISTRICT, SIDAMA REGION

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess egg production and egg quality traits of Sasso chicken breed reared in two agroecologies under traditional management system. For the assessment of the egg production practices, 165 households were purposively selected from lowland and midland agro ecologies who had three and above Sasso chicken. The egg quality traits were assessed from Sasso chicken breed reared by the households in both agro ecologies. A total of 200 eggs were used to determine the external and internal egg quality traits from sampled households. The collected data were analysed by SPSS Version 26. The results indicated that average age at first egg laying(160) days, average clutch length (22.9) and eggs/hen/year(214)were in lowland agroecology. Average age at first egg laying(149) days, average clutch length(23.9) and eggs/hen/year(232) were midland. Agro ecology had highly significant effect on all external egg quality traits except on egg width. Egg weight(57.58g) and egg length(57.46mm) of Sasso chickens was higher(p<0.05) in the lowland than(53.58g) and (55.80mm) in midland. Dry shell weight and shell thickness in the lowland agroecology was higher(p<0.05) than in midland. Shape endex was higher(p<0.05) in the midland than in lowland agro-ecology. Agro-ecology had also highly significant effect on most internal egg quality traits such as: yolk height, albumen height, albumen weight and haugh unit were higher(p<0.05) in lowland than in midland. The yolk ratio in lowland was lower(p<0.05) than in midland agro-ecology. However, albumen ratio was lower(p>0.05) in lowland than in midland agroecology. In conclusion, the Sasso chickens in the midland agroecology were superior in egg production than lowland. However,the Sasso chickens in the lowland agroecology were superior on most external and internal egg quality traits under traditional production system. It is thus recommended to rear the Sasso chicken hens in the midland agroecology for enhanced egg production and lowland for enhanced egg quality traits.