Demonstration and Performance Evaluation of “Potchefstroom Koekoek” Chicken Package at Jimma Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Dual purpose poultry package demonstration was undertaken at Jimma zone, Mana district, Somodo Peasant Association with the objectives of demonstrating and evaluating the performance of chicken under farmers management condition so as to promote and disseminate the approved technology packages to the users. The district, peasant association and participant farmers were selected purposively on the basis of willingness to construct poultry house and cover all the associated package costs. Based on the package requirements, training was given on poultry house & housing, health care, feeds & feeding and data recording. Finally three hundred forty two (342) day old chicks (57 chicks to each farmers) were distributed with two month feeding and medication materials at the farmers gate. Survival of chicks during the first 8 weeks of brooding by using hay-box at the farmers management condition was found 64.1%. The average daily body weight gain were 9.3gm in-case of male chicken and 7.1gm in female chicken during the first twenty weeks of age. The average age at first egg laying was 220 days. The egg production performance of these chicken under farmers management condition were found 51.8% percent in the first phase of production (45 weeks of age) but grows to 79.4% in the case of pick production stage. The partial budget analysis result indicated that Koekoek breed production was profitable with a net average benefit of 2731.02Ethiopian birr per the package (farmer). The average egg weight were 41.6 gm, 44.7gm and 47.9gm both at 5%, 50% and peak production stage respectively. The major challenges observed during the study was lack of skill of the farmers to manage the chicks, disease and lack of appropriate feeding. Irrespective of the challenges indicated the demand for the chicken was observed very high in the area. Therefore, a mechanism by which the disease and alternative feed options can be improved needs attention.

Key words: Koekoek chicken breed, mortality, egg production, farmers management