Assessment of Locally Available Poultry Feeds, Feeding Practices and Health in Sidama Zone and Halaba Special Woreda in SNNPR

Abstract

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing and recommending chicken feed resources and feeding practices for chicken in study areas. Three woredas (two woredas from Sidama and Halaba special woreda) were included in the study and 40 respondent farmers were involved from each woreda. Different cereals, pulses horticultural crops and kitchen wastes were identified as locally available chicken feed in the study areas. Farmer’s practices of supplementation of different feed types for different classes of chickens in different seasons were also identified mostly in Shebedino and Dale woreda. But in all study area, the feeding system was on the bare ground by mass feeding of different classes of chicken specially in Halaba special woreda as well as Dale. Also, lack of awareness, cost of feed, lack of feed and feed ingredients are major problems of supplementation. As a result indicated, seasonal variability of disease, lack of veterinary services, feed shortage and predators major constraints in the study area that hastate production and productivity of chicken.

Key words: indigenous chicken, local feed and feeding practices