Abstract
Surveys using both purposive and random sampling methods was carried out in four zones of north-west Ethiopia to describe the village-based poultry production systems and constraints in order to design future improvement and conservation strategies. The majority of the respondents were female (74.16%). This indicated that most of the time the women, whether in male-headed or female-headed households, are responsible for chicken rearing while the men are responsible for crop cultivation and other off-farm activities. About 99% of the respondents gave supplementary feeds to their chickens. Almost all farmers provided night shelter for their chickens, in part of the kitchen (1.36%), in the main house (39.07%), in hand-woven baskets (7.29%), in bamboo cages (1.51%) or in a separate shed purpose-made for chickens (50.77%). The major causes of death of chickens during the study were seasonal outbreaks of Newcastle disease (locally known as fengele) and predation. It is important to collect and conserve local poultry breeds before they are fully replaced by the so-called improved breeds. As most of the poultry production is managed by women, focusing on training and education of women will enable not only the improvement of poultry production but also family planning and the overall living standards of the family and the community.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Assan, B.E., 1990. L’elevage villageois de la volaille en Republique du Benin: Situation actuelle. In: U. Riest (ed.), CTA – Seminar Proceedings, Smallholder Rural Poultry Production, Thessaloniki, 17–26.
Atteh, J.O., 1989. Rural poultry production in Western Middle Belt region of Nigeria. In: E. B. Sonaiya (ed.), Proceedings of an International Workshop on Rural Poultry Development in Africa, IIe-Ife, Nigeria, 211–220.
Badubi, S.S., Rakereng, M. and Marumo, M., 2006. Morphological characteristics and feed resources available for indigenous chickens in Botswana. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 18(1). http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd18/1/badu18003.htm.
Bell, J.G. and Abdou, I., 1995. Dynamics of village poultry production in the Keita region of Niger. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 22, 141–144.
Gueye, E.F., 1997. Diseases in village chickens: control through ethno-veterinary medicine. ILEIA Newsletter, 13, 20–21.
Gueye, E.F., 1998. Village egg and fowl meat production in Africa. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 54, 73–86.
Kassambara, A.I., 1989. La production avicole au Mali: problèmes et perspectives. In: E.B. Sonaiya (ed.), Proceedings of an International Workshop on Rural Poultry Development in Africa, IIe-Ife, Nigeria, 140–150.
Katule, A.M.,1992. Study on the potential value of chickens indigenous to Tanzania. ANRPD Newsletter, 2, 4.
Mapiye, C. and Sibanda, S., 2005. Constraints and opportunities of village chicken production systems in the smallholder sector of Rushinga districts of Zimbabwe. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 17(10). http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd17/10/mapi17115.htm.
Mcainsh, C.V., Kusina, J., Madsen, J. and Nyoni, O., 2004. Traditional chicken production in Zimbabwe. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 60, 233–246.
Njenga, S.K., 2005. Productivity and socio-cultural aspects of local poultry phenotypes in coastal Kenya, (MSc thesis, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Denmark).
Sall, B., 1990. Contribution a l’étude des possibilités d’amélioration de la production en aviculture traditionnelle: mesure du potentiel de la race locale et des produits d’un croisement ameliorateur, (MSc thesis, Institut National de Development Rural, St Louis, Senegal).
Sonaiya, E.B. and Olori, V.E., 1989. Village chicken production in South Western Nigeria. In: E.B. Sonaiya (ed.), Proceedings of an International Workshop on Rural Poultry Development in Africa, IIe-Ife, Nigeria, 243–247.
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), 1996. SPSS User’s Guide 10, (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC).
Tadelle, D., Million, T., Alemu, Y. and Peters, K.J., 2003. Village chicken production systems in Ethiopia: 2. Use pattern and performance valuation and chicken products and socio-economic functions of chicken. Livestock Research for Rural Development 15(1). http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd15/1/tadeb151.htm.
Veluw, K. Van, 1987. Traditional poultry kee** in northern Ghana. ILEIA Newsletter, 3, 12–13.
Wilson, R.T., 1979. Studies on the livestock of Southern Darfur, Sudan. VII. Production of poultry under simulated traditional conditions. Tropical Animal Health and Production Journal, 11, 143–150.
Wilson, R.T., Traore, A., Kuit, H.G. and Slinger Land, M., 1987. Livestock production in central Mali: reproduction, growth and mortality of domestic fowl under traditional management. Tropical Animal Health and Production Journal, 19, 229–236.
Workneh, A. and J. Rowlands (eds), 2004. Design, execution and analysis of the livestock breed survey in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, (OADB (Oromiya Agricultural Development Bureau), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Halima, H., Neser, F.W.C., Van Marle-Koster, E. et al. Village-based indigenous chicken production system in north-west Ethiopia. Trop Anim Health Prod 39, 189–197 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9004-6
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9004-6