ASSESSMENT ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVEPERFORMANCE OF SASSO CHICKEN BREED DISTRIBUTED IN CHEHA WOREDA, GURAGE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A quick survey study was conducted with the objectives of assessing the productive and reproductive performances of Sasso chicken breed distributed in three kebeles ofCheha Woreda, Guraghe Zone,SNNPRs, Ethiopia. Totally, 60 purposively selected respondents (20 from each kebeles) were included in the study. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 20 (SPSS, 2017) using descriptive statistics. According to the respondents most of the farmers were currently rearing moreSasso breeds (8.6667±.12274)than their own local chickens(2.27±.247) in the study area. Current study exposed that most of respondents in all kebeles select Sasso foregg production, having large body size and producing high amount of meat. An average eggs laid/year/bird of Sasso (164.7500±2.33018) was higher than local chicken breeds (41.2167±.58420). Average age at first laying of Sasso (4.5667±.09009) was earlier than local chicken (6.8167±.13125) months. The current result also revealed that the slaughter age of Sasso(4.0167±.11763) is earlier than that of local chicken(7.2000±.14022).The result of study also indicated hatchability of Sasso(51.4137%) is lower than that of local chicken(82.2883%). They mentioned predators (45%), diseases (30%), feed shortage(20%) and lack of veterinary service (5%) were ranked as the first major chicken production constraints in Cheha woreda.There should be an experienced extension worker that informs farmers to construct predator proof and provision of current chicken management practices.