Management Practices and Productive Performances of Sasso Chickens Breed under Village Production System in SNNPR, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted with the objectives of assessing management practices and to evaluate productive performance of Sasso under village production system in two woredas of Wolaitta zone (Sodo zuria and Boloso sore) and two woredas of Kambata tambaro zone (Angecha and Hadaro tunto), SNNPR, Ethiopia. Totally, 160 randomly selected respondents were included in the study from eight purposively selected Peasant Associations (PAs) from four districts. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA. In all study woredas, 64% of the chicken owners provided supplementary feed to the village chicken, especially during feed scarcity seasons . Maize, wheat and ''Frushka'' were the most common additional supplementary feeds used in feeding poultry in the study woredas, mostly three times a day. About 96.8% of respondents in study areas provided water with free access. The average eggs laid/year/bird was 229.14±52.49 and 54.96±15.65 eggs for Sasso and local chickens, respectively. Average age at first laying was 4.76±0.85 and 6.22±1.26 months for Sasso  and local chicken respectively. Presence of diseases, in adequate veterinary services, feed shortage and predators were listed as major constraints in all study woredas. Getting improved chicks at affordable price, provision of vaccination at village level, getting training on poultry rearing, supply of electricity and clean water were mentioned as option to improve chicken productivity in the study woredas. The study showed good performance of Sasso chicken under village production system; suggesting productivity could be increased through improved housing, feeding and health management.

Keywords: Sasso, village poultry production system, productive performances, body weight