Population Dynamic Production Statistics of Horse and Ass in Ethiopia: A Review

Related research results and facts of population dynamic production statistics of horse and ass in and out of Ethiopia were reviewed with the aim of delivering information to the improved production and management plan of a country. The study revealed that Ethiopia has large horse and donkey resources approximately 6.21million donkeys, which is 32% of Africa’s and 10% of the world’s donkey population and 2 million horses which is 33.5% of Africa population.  Donkeys are the cheapest option for the Ethiopian family.  They are relatively inexpensive to buy in comparison to horses, mules and oxen. The study also showed that donkey and horse number in Ethiopia increased during the 2000-2012 period at an average annual rate of 4.55% and 3.33% respectively. But donkey number declined during 2002 by an average rate of 2.6%. As a conclusion, improved management practices and feeding regimes and the delivery of accessible, sustainable and affordable equine health services are required to enhance equine performance and welfare. Keywords: Trend, Donkey, Globa

Poultry Production System and Role of Poultry Production in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia: A Review

Related research results and facts of indigenous chicken production in and out of Tigray region were reviewed with the aim of delivering information to the improved production and for the breeding plan of a region. The study revealed that there are various advantages which make poultry attractive in the context of poverty alleviation and quality protein supply in Tigray region. The study also showed that there are three major production systems such as village or backyard poultry production system, small scale poultry production system and commercial poultry production system. The common production system used was mostly extensive type that is characterized by small flock sizes; it needs no or less inputs and a periodic devastation of the flock by diseases. As a conclusion, government and non government organization should enhance the private sector to engage in poultry feed production, supplying watering, feeding and hatching materials. Government should be developing the community based disease diagnosis and proactive protection and control options .Government should be strengthen the   local private/public drugs/vaccine supplier and services providers. Keywords: Flock composition, Chicken distribution, Bree

Evaluation and Demonstration of Hubbard JV Broiler Breed at Axum and Axum Zeria, Tigray Region, Northen Ethiopia

This study was implemented at Axum and its surrounding to evaluate the performance and demonstrate the breed at small holder management level in 2012. From the total of 7 participants included in the study 3 were women. Total of 756 day old Hubbard JV broiler chicks were brought from Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and according to the house size 100-135 chicks were supplied per participate. Participant farmers were trained on poultry house and housing, health, feeding and data recording. The houses were disinfected, bedded with Tef straw and a 250 watt infrared bulb was used to heat the birds. Proper drinking and feeding materials were used to feed the chicks at adlib basis. Vaccines were given against Newcastle and gumbro diseases. Records like daily feed intake, weekly body weight gain and mortality was taken throughout the experiments. At the end carcass characteristics was measured. Mean daily feed intake (g) and weekly weight gain (g) per bird were 79.69±4.54 and 283.51±18.18 respectively. The mean final weight was 1776.67g±109.07 at 45 days consuming 3586.05 grams of feed per bird. Average mortality of birds was 6.6% and farmers profited 26.78 birr per bird. The breed adapted well to the area as well as to the small holder production system, besides farmers showed greater interest on the breed. Eventually we strongly recommend that due attention must be given for the sustainable supply of the breed. Keywords: Body weight gain, Day old chicks, Feed intake, Mortality, Smallholde

Pre-extension Popularization of Improved Dual Purpose Koekoek Chickens in Tahtay Maichew District Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Central zone of Tigray has potential and poultry stock. However, the productivity in terms of egg and meat is low since the majority of household depends on local chickens and rearing of their chickens through a traditional production practices. Then, the objectives of the pre-extension popularization of Koekoek breed was i) to popularize and evaluate the production performance the Koekoek breed chickens in the small holder Farmers and ii) To analyze farmers feedback towards this improved Koekoek chickens breed at smallholder farmers' management. T/maichew District, My-sie kebelle was selected based on the project financial support of Irish Aid Operational Research (OR) purposely. A total of 17 household heads willingly participated to adopt the Koekoek breeds. Data record sheet and semi-structured questionnaires were prepared to collect the required data. Then, using simple descriptive and Likert measurement level used to achieve result. The finding of the research shows that an annual average yield was found to be 204 eggs per year/ chicken. Similarly, the respondents agreed on that the chickens have well adapted, good growing ability, relatively resistance to diseases, have good scavenging ability, and productivity as well have medium eggs size and good egg and meat tasty of Koekoek chickens. The improved chickens’ breed (Koekoek) is better to be transferred to other mandate areas of Axum Agricultural Research Center. In addition, collaboration of stakeholders needs to be strengthening so that large scale demonstration community production system is going to be functional. Strengthen the human resource and institutional innovations are important point for dissemination of the improved poultry breeds to all beneficiaries of small holder farmers