Browsing by Author "GIZEYATU CHERU W/SENBET"

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    CHARACTERIZATION OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF EXOTIC CHICKENS UNDER DIFFERENT AGRO-ECOLOGIES IN EZHA DISTRICT OF GURAGE ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPI
    (Wolkite University, 2022-06) GIZEYATU CHERU W/SENBET
    This study was conducted to assess the management practices, productive and reproductive performances of exotic chickens under different agro-ecologies, from March 2021 to September 2021 in Ezha district of Gurage zone, Ethiopia. A total of 280 (165 from highland and 115 from midland) households were randomly selected households from six peasant associations (PAs) were used in the study to collect primary data using semi-structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21and mean differences were compared using Independent-Sample T Test. The result indicated that using extension package exotic chickens keeping as a parameter showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the two agro-ecologies of the study area. The results obtained showed that the mean flock size of the study area was 10.5 chickens/household and types of exotic chicks to chicken owners showed that the majority of the respondents (80%) used Sasso breed the rest (20%) used Bovans brown. 90.4% of the respondents used separate house for their chicken from both agro-ecologies. However only 133(54.5%) of the respondent kept the chicken in a house at the time of both day and night. Regarding the feeding activities, majority 235(83.9%) was scavenging in addition to supplementary feed. Whereas, (11.1%) were homemade feed and only (4.3%) used formulated balanced diets feed. 279(99.6%) of chicken owners provide supplementary feed for their chickens and also (99.6%) of the respondents provide water to their chicken. About (68.6%) of the respondents vaccinate their chickens and (35.7%) use modern drugs to treat sick chickens. Newcastle (80.8%) vaccine is the most frequently used vaccine in the area. New castle disease (68.9%) and Fowl thiphoid, Gumboro and Foul poxdisease (31.1%) were the major poultry diseases with relatively high prevalence. About (41.1%), (21.1%) and (19.3%) of the respondent reported that weasel, eagle and wild cat as major predators, respectively. (97.5%) of the respondent has market access for products. Most respondents (97.1%) get the extension service from the extension agent and (74.3%) of them get the training about chicken production. The mean egg number/ hen /year were calculated to be (224.37 and 223.44) for the highland and midland respectively. The mean age at first egg was reported to be (5.88 and 5.83) months for highland and midland hens respectively. Exotic village chicken productivity estimating parameters like eggs/hen/year, number of clutch/hen/day, market age of cock and hen, sexual maturity of hen and age at 1st egg were showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between agro-ecologies. Market weight of Sasso cock was reported to be (3.27 and 2.99) Kg and hen (3.0 and 2.88) Kg for the highland and midland respectively. There was no variation (P<0.05) between agro-ecologies. Thus, improving the overall management system such as improved feeding, recommended housing and health care extension packages could be a better strategy to increase the egg and meat production potential of exotic chickens under village management condition. The outstanding effort has been made to improve farmers raising a small number of exotic chickens to increase their chicken number under semi-intensive production system to play a role to improving chicken production and productivity