Breeding Objectives and Farmers Trait Preferences of Village Chicken in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha and Dugda districts of East Shewa Zone with the objective to assess breeding objectives and trait preferences of village chickens. Multi-stage sampling techniques (both purposive and random) were used to select villages and households from each district. The districts were selected based on the potential of chicken production and accessibility to main roads for ease of data collection and monitoring. A total of 60 households per district were randomly selected using computerized random sampling procedures, but those with experiences of rearing chickens for the last five years were purposively included in the study. The procedures were repeated until the required number of households was fulfilled. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) (version 20) was used to compute qualitative data and index ranking of traits. The study revealed that egg production for sell and home consumption purposes were the main reasons for keeping chickens in the study area. The majority of households select specific traits of chickens for breeding purpose. The body size was rank on first for cock preference in both study districts, followed by feather colour and growth rate in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha and Dugda districts, respectively. For hen selection, body size and egg productivity rank first, followed by egg size and growth rate in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha and Dugda districts, respectively. In the study districts, age, disease outbreak in the flock, poor egg production and lower body weight were the main criteria used for culling of chicken. From this, it was concluded that farmers in the study area preferred large body size breed with better growth and desire for egg productivity. Overall, the main purpose of chickens in the study area was for egg production.