ASSESSING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF EXOTIC CHICKEN BREED, REARED IN SHEBEDINO DISTRICT, SIDAMA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Exotic chicken management practices, performance and challenges and opportunity infive kebeles of Shebedino district in Sidama Regional state, Ethiopia were assessed. Sample size of HHs for the survey was determined using a multi stage sampling technique and Processed data analyzed by using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20.0 soft ware. Five kebeles (2 from highland, 3 from midland and 4kebeles and 1kebele from rural and urban areas respectively) were selected purposively based on potential of production. Total sample size of selected population was 137of which59.85% was male and 40.15% were female. The average family sizes were 5.54 and 5.53 persons with in highland and mid-land of the district, respectively. Age of respondents ranged from 44.5 and 45 years for Highland and Mid-land Agro-ecologies of the district, respectively. Total landholding/HH were 0.5-1 ha (24.8%) and 1.25-1.75 ha (57.67%), 2-2.25 ha (13.13%) and 2.5-3 ha (4.4%) of the respondents both high and mid land agro-ecologies. Average numbers of exotic chicks, pullets, cockerels, hens and cocks per HH were 17, 5.3, 2.6, 7.3and 2.8 respectively, both high and mid land agro-ecologies. Majority of the sample respondents (58.7%) and (63.7%) in the highland and midland of the district respectively; keep exotic chickens primarily for income generation and next home consumption. Commonly distributed exotic chicken breeds were Sasso (49.64%), IB (Issa Brown) (43.06%) and BB (Bovans Brown) (7.3%) in the high land and mid land of the district. Majority of households (71.53%) practice free-scavenging or/and extensive poultry production system and about a quarter of them semi-intensive poultry production system. The exotic chickens rearing experiences of household were ≤ 5 years (8.76 %), 6-10 years (41.61 %) and > 10 years (49.63 %). Majority of respondents (67.9%) used traditional housing with main house. Higher numbers of the respondents (68.6%) obtain from local available feeds.75.9% of the respondents practiced supplementary feeding by maize, kocho, home left over and wheat bran to their exotic chickens. Majority of respondents (82.4%) provided water adi-libitum, whereas 14.7% provided three times per day and the remaining 2.9% offered twicea day. The major diseases reported in the study area, in the order of their importance, were Newcastle, coccidiosis and fowl pox. Bovans brown, Issa brown and Sasso attained sexual maturity at 90-120 days. The predators that most commonly occur and attack exotic chickens were wild cat (local name Ganchara), fox and hawk. Disease, feed problems followed by predators and poor adaptation were challenges of exotic chicken production. Major opportunities of rearing exotic chickens in the study areas were access to market, veterinary service and extension service and adaptation problem of exotic chickens. Government should create awareness on vaccination of chicken against major poultry diseases in the study areas.