EVALUATION OF GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION ON PRODUCTION TRAITS OF EXOTIC CHICKEN BREEDS AND ASSESS HUSBANDRY PRACTICES UNDER SMALL HOLDER PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN TWO DISTRICTS OF AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the Genotype by Environment interaction for growth and egg production performances of Kuroiler, Koekoek, Sasso, and Sasso-RIR exotic chicken breeds and assess chicken husbandry practices under smallholder production system in Gondar Zuria and Kalu districts of Eastern and Northern Amhara. The survey data were collected through questionnaires using180 households and analyzed by SAS software of chi- square test while 184 households and four chicken breeds were also included for on-farm performance evaluation on growth and egg production traits. Data were analyzed by using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS 9.1 by fitting the two districts and four breeds as main ef ects and the interactions among them. The results showed that the majority of households (60%) were headed by males. The majority of the respondents (84.5%) had experience of culling chickens from their flock due to poor productivity (41%), old age (8.9%), sickness behavior (17.7%) and low body weight (16.7%). There was highly significant ef ect of breeds and districts on body weight of chickens at all growth periods. Sasso chicken breed was dominant and had the highest body weight compared with the other chicken genotypes from 90 to 180 days of age in both sexes. Breed by district interaction significantly af ects the body weight of chickens in both sexes at all growth periods. Breed by district interaction was significantly (p<0.001) dif erent for egg production performances of chickens at 38 th , 42 th and 46 th weeks of age. The mean egg production performance of Sasso (6.25) and Kuroiler (5.75) chicken breeds were produced higher in Kalu district at 38 th weeks of age. The interaction ef ects of breed by district was highly significant (p<0.001) dif erence for average egg weight of chicken breeds at 34, 38 and 42 weeks of age in Gondar Zuria district. Sasso breed was recorded the highest (57.68 gram) egg weight compared to among chicken genotypes at 30 th weeks of age in Gondar Zuria district. The ef ect of breed by district interaction was highly significant (p<0.001) for mean age at first egg of four chicken genotypes. The age at first lay of Sasso chicken breed was xvii earlier with the shortest age to lay eggs (23.8 weeks) when compared to the other three groups of genotypes in Kalu district. From this study it is possible to conclude that Sasso breed could be much suitable than contemporary breeds for meat production while Sasso-RIR breed was recommended for egg production performance for both districts. Besides, there was breed by district interactions in body weight, daily body weight gain, egg production, egg weight and age at first egg lay. Hence, to improve egg production and chicken productivity of the communities appropriate breed that have positive genotype by environment should be considered.