Poultry Production, Management and Marketing System at Selected Districts of Kafa and Benchmaji Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine village chicken feed and feeding practice, housing system, production performance and marketing systems and to assess the existing diseases and predators at selected districts of Kafa and Bench Maji Zone, from four representative districts; Adeyo, Chena, Gimbo and Guraferda Six farmer kebeles (2 from high land, 2 from mid-altitude and 2 from low land agro-ecologies which were boka, butta, beyamo, wareta, bifitu-03 and kujja). An attempt was made to study by selecting a total of 150 households who involved in chicken production. The data were collected by semi structured questionnaire, personal observation and interview.Purpose of supplementary feed (39.33%) giving is for egg yield. Major green forage feed (42%) is different edible green grass like “keppo”. About 70% of respondents use Household scraps for poultry feed. Source of water for village birds 41% is spring water. Type of container used to supply water is clay pot (45.33%). Trained of washing water supplying materials every times (25.33%) and 23.33% of respondents never. Housing system of village chickens at study area was 41% perch in the house and 11% separate shelter. From this study 87% of the households kept local chicken followed by 8% kept cross and local together and 5% of the households kept exotic and local under the same management. Average age of first egg lying of chicken was 6 months, average number of eggs per clutch was 14, and average clutch size per chicken per year was 3. The average price of adult cock, hen and young chicken were reached 75 birr, 54 birr and 38 birr respectively and the price of egg was reached 2 birr during non-fasting period and 2.25 birr at festival time.The major (50%) Causes of village chickens mortality is diseases followed by (27%) predator. The most devastating chicken disease is Newcastle disease (NCD) 52%, followed by fowl pox (18%).To date there were no any comprehensive studies conducted in the study Weredas. Hence, will help to give important baseline information to improve the existing village chickens feed and feeding practice, housing system, production performance and marketing systems as well as causes of mortally by improving the management practice, poultry breeds with a holistic and multidisciplinary support of services like; health, husbandry, research, extension, training and educating the framers are viable options to improve the livelihood of the households.

Keywords: Feeding, Housing, production, marketing, Diseases, Kafa and Benchmaji Zone