CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS CHICKEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND EGG QUALITY IN METEKEL ZONE, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in Metekel Zone, Northwest Ethiopia to characterize indigenous chicken production system and to analyze egg quality parameters. The data was collected through structured questionnaire and focused group discussion, egg quality analysis were done in poultry farm laboratory of Haramaya University. The research was conducted in three districts of Metekel Zone. Four kebeles from each district and two kebeles from each agro-ecology of (highland and lowland) were selected. From each kebele 10 households were used for the survey data collection and 15 eggs per kebele were used for egg quality analysis. The average age of indigenous chicken at sexual maturity was 6.4±0.58 and 6.4±0.58 months, in the highland and lowlands, respectively. The total number of egg yield/hen/year was 45.7±6.58 and 46.9±6.88 and the average numbers of egg incubated per hen in one cycle was 11.9±1.6 and 11.6±1.97 with an average numbers of eggs per set for incubation was 11.8±2.57 and 12.5±1.79 in the highland and lowland, respectively. The average number of egg per clutch per year was 3.39 at lowland and 3.25 at highland at which there was no significant difference between agro-ecologies (P>0.05). The average hatchability of egg from highland and lowland were 88.14% and 74.64%, respectively. The average survival of chicken up to adult was 7.81±3.24 and 5.74±3.01 in the highland and lowland, respectively. Egg weight was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the highland 41.93±2.6 than lowland 38.46±3.1). Albumen Height of egg collected from the highland was significantly higher (4.087±0.33) (P<0.05) than the lowland (3.45±0.36). Haugh Unit shows no significant difference between highland and lowland with 69.05±4.41 and 64.87±3.51, respectively. Newcastle disease, Coccidiosis and predation were the major causes of chicken loss in both agro-ecologies. Women are engaged on various chicken husbandry activities. Respondents prioritized lack of proper health care, poor housing and poor watering system and predation as major constraints to indigenous chicken production system in the study area.