Abstract:
The study was conducted in Tahtay Michew and Mereb Leke districts, Central Tigray, Ethiopia; from January 2016 to January 2018 with the objective to evaluate production and reproduction performance of the three exotic chicken breeds under farmer condition and to characterize the production system of chicken in the two study districts. Field study and data collections were carried out through a structured questionnaire, and data collection from different sources. A total of 80 households (40 from Tahtay Michew and 40 from Mereb Leke) were randomly selected for structured questionnaire interview for baseline survey. For on farm exotic chicken performance evaluation four kebeles were selected purposely based on the baseline survey of the African Chicken Genetic Gains project. From the two districts a total of 96 households (24 households per kebele) were selected for on farm chicken breed evaluation. Within each village, Sasso Rhode Island Red, kuroiler and koekoek breeds were distributed and each of these breeds was distributed for eight households. Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Statistical Analysis System software were used to analyze the survey part using the Chi square method, General Linear Model Procedure for on farm performance data and index method for trait preference. Randomized complete block design, district as block and breeds as treatment were used. The results showed that the average chicken flock size per household in the study area was 6.21 and ranging from 1-29 and 2-20 chickens in Tahtay Michew and Mereb Leke respectively. The primary and secondary purpose of keeping chicken in the study districts were sale of eggs and live adult chicken, respectively. Exotic breed was the first priority given by chicken producers due to their potential to produce more number of eggs, large body size and their early sexual maturity as compared to the cross and local chickens. The overall average age of sexual maturity of the local hen were 25.65 and 26.05, and cock 24.70 and 24.88 weeks Mereb Lekeand Tahtay Michew respectively. Mean egg production performance of local chickens in the study districts were 13.54 and 15.15 per clutch in Mereb Leke and Tahtay Michew respectively. The overall average clutch length per year, number of egg set per brood, hatched and number of chicken surviving up to adulthood in the study area were 3.40, 10.46, 8.19 and 6.15 respectively. The average fertility and hatchability were 83.75 and 60.65% respectively. The most preferred trait by respondents during the selection of hen and cock for breeding purpose were egg production and body growth rate with good body conformation. Better overall average daily body weight gains were achieved from week 12-16 and 16-20 weeks by female kuroiler chickens with the value of 10.29, 13.68 grams respectively. Similarly, male Kuroiler attained average daily weight gains 14.67 and 17.42 grams from 12-16 and 16-20 weeks intervals respectively. Age at first lay of SRIR and Kuroiler breeds were at 23.69 and 25.25 weeks respectively. However, body weight at first lay for SRIR were 1793.37 and Kuroiler 2082.18 grams in Tahtay Michew district which was higher than in Mereb Leke district, which attained 1588.06 and 1922.50 gram respectively. The overall average egg production in the study area was 63.36% which was scored by SRIR breed. Egg production and growth rate are the most top important trait preference of the introduced female and male chicken respectively. Based on their fast growing and better daily body weight gains Kuroiler breeds were recommended for meat production than egg production to the study area and like agro ecologies.