Comparative production performance of two exotic chicken breeds under two different feed regimes in three agro-ecologies of central Oromia, Ethiopia - A step forward for distribution or contract rearing of day old exotic chicks under rural setting
Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, National Poultry Research Section, P.O. Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; USAID, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reta, D., Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Negussie, D., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, National Poultry Research Section, P.O. Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Alemu, Y., USAID, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Comparative evaluation on the performance and mortality of two chicken breeds (RIR versus Fayoumi) in response to two different feed regimes (formulated versus non- formulated) was made in 3 agro-ecologies in villages of central Oromia State. The sites were Adama and Boset District representing lowland, Tiya Distrcit was mid-altitude and Wonchi District was highland. Four participant farmers per District were selected from the four study Districts. Each farmer received 35 Fayoumi and 30 RIR to feed on formulated ration while 35 Fayoumi and 30 RIR to feed on non-formulated ration. The chicks were vaccinated against Newcastle disease at day-old and then regularly and grown using the hay box brooder as heater until 8 weeks. Mortality and feed supply, intake, refusal and body weight data were collected daily. Daily feed intake varied significantly between the two breeds. However, there was no variation in daily intake due to the type of diet offered. Weekly feed intake was significantly (P<0.01) affected by type of breed. Weekly feed intake, however, was not affected whether birds were offered a formulated or non-formulated ration. Both breed and type of diet offered had highly significant (P<0.001) effects on growth rate. The RIR chickens showed faster rate of growth compared to the Fayoumi. On the other hand, both of the breeds feeding on the formulated ration had superior growth performance compared to those on non-formulated ration. Daily weight gain was also affected by breed X diet interaction. Although both breeds showed improved growth performance when offered formulated ration, the difference was significantly higher only for the RIR chickens. There were highly significant (P<0.001) variations in weight change as a result of breed and type of diet offered. The interaction between breed and diet was also found to be significant (P<0.05). Compared to the RIR, despite slight increases in weight, growth performance of the Fayoumi didn't increase significantly as a result of feeding on formulated ration. It is concluded that day-old exotic chickens could be transferred to rural villages with some management packages with better survival rate and production performance.