Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

International Livestock Research Institute

Wageningen University and Research Centre

CGSpace

31/10/20121Progress report of project: Improving village chicken protection to elevate livelihoods of poor people in EthiopiaJoint research project of International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research (EIAR) and Wageningen University (WU) funded by Koepon FoundationTadelle Dessie, Wondmeneh Esatu, and Johan van ArendonkOctober 2012PrefaceThis report is based on visit of Johan van Arendonk and Linda Koster from the Koepon Foundation to Ethiopia. Main contacts in Ethiopia: Dr Tadelle Dessie (ILRI) and Wondmeneh Esaty (PhD candidate on project)Program of visit:21/10: Arrival at ILRI in Addis Ababa22/10: Discussions at ILRI23/10: Visit to research station in Debre Zeit andhousehoulds for field experiment24/10: Field trip and meeting with Nigussie Dana (Awasa)25/10: concluding meeting at ILRI26/10: Arrival at Amsterdam airport31/10/20122Outline of reportBackground and objectivesStatus of the research● Selection experiment● Comparison of breed types● PhD activity● MSC studiesCollaboration Publicity3Delegation at Debre Zeit431/10/20123Poultry production in Ethiopia Village system responsible for majority of poultryproduction Characteristics farms in Horro region (From PRA study)Better-off Medium Poor DestituteNo. farms (%) 15 20 30 35Farm size (ha) 10 5 2-3 0.5No of cattle 50 30 20 2No of poultry 3 10 15 30Grain production (Qt) 80 60 40 10Poultry offers poor people pathway out of povertyGoal of projectThe purpose of this project is: to enhance the production and productivity of the family poultry production system in selected sites through improving their genetic potential and economic competitiveness through participatory, sustainable and community-based scheme as a means of enhancing the livelihoods of the rural resource-poor chicken keepersProject period: 2011-2014Project builds on results of previous PhD project by Nigussie Dana (graduated in December 2010): start of selection experiment for local chicken at Debre Zeit(station)31/10/20124Objectives of project1. Run the breeding program for selective breeding of Horro chickens on station2. Set up a cross breeding program using selected parents of Horro chickens with improved exotic breed.3. Testing and dissemination of genetic materials developed on-station to people in the surrounding villages and evaluate performance.4. Asses, document and improve poultry and poultry product marketing in the study sites Selection experiment Horro Chicken Started in 2006 with birds selected from different households in Horro region (collected eggs) Currently in generation 6● Started egg laying● Population size: 350 hens and 100 cocks● Mortality of generation 6 birds < 3% Selection traits:● Survival● Body weight at 16 weeks of age● Cumulative egg production at 45 wks● Age at first egg831/10/20125Some of the householdsBreeding program to improve local chickenbreed (Horro)Mass selection based on own performance:  Growth: based on live weight at 16 wks in both sexes Age at first egg in females Cumulative Egg number at 45 weeks in females. Trait Base Generation 5Survival (26 wks) <50% 97%Age at first egg (d) 223 150Body weight 16 wk (g) 550 788Egg production upto 45 wks24 6531/10/20126The birds of generation 6: on stationDevelopment over generations of selectionAge at first egg: emphasis in first generationsCumulative eggproduction: continuousimprovement31/10/20127Coming year: comparison of breed typesComparison on station and in the field (2 regions, 12 households)Breed types1. Improved Horro2. Crossbred: Horro (f) x RIR (m)3. Commercial hybrid of RIR type4. Unimproved horroRIR males produced from imported one-day old chicksPlans for coming year Production generation 7 Production hens for field & station experiment (Jan 2013)● Improved Horro● Crossbred: Horro (f) x RIR (m): ● RIR males have been imported in August 2012 (153 one-day olds, 150 survived)● Commercial hybrid of RIR type● To be imported as egg (n=2000)● Unimproved Horro● Collect eggs in households1431/10/20128Experiments to compare 4 breed typesField experiment (starting March 2013) Two regions 12 households in each region Each household receives 40 two-month old hens Performance recorded in households during 6 monthsinvolving school children and local development agentsStation experiment (starting January 2013) 120 hens of each breed type (3 replicates) Record range of traits including feed intake, egg at first egg, egg production, survival15PhD project (March 2011-February 2015) Project proposal approved by graduate school WIAS First paper on “Exotic chicken breeds in Ethiopia: their adoption by rural poultry keepers” submitted to Livestock ScienceAnalysis of selection experiment (up to generation 6) including estimation of genetic parameters and trends: to be completed by September 2013.Analysis of field and station experiment: data collection in 2013 followed by analysisAnalysis of Natural antibodies in different breed types in station experiment.Scenario study on breed improvement1631/10/20129Other activities by MSc students2011/2012: One MSC student and one DVM student attached to the project and generated important information on two regions included in the project● Production characteristics● Health issues under local production systemsResults have been used to produce research report (to be published in ILRI series)2012/2013: One MSC student on the socio-economic acpects:● The poultry production value chain in Ethiopia (two regions of study)17Activities at research station in DebreZeitHousing: The house required for future selection and cross breeding activities including on station evaluation to be completed in November 2012 Purchase of equipment (laying nests with traps, drinkers and feeders) and tags for animal identification: already completedStaff to be involved in station and field experiment: contracted, training session to be organised1831/10/201210Publicity Paper submitted to Livestock Science Oral presentation by Wondmeneh at European Association for Animal Sciences (Bratislava, 2012): “Adoption of exotic chickens in rural areas of Ethiopia: implication for breed introduction” Oral presentation by Wondmeneh at Ethopian Society of Animal production (Addis Ababa, 2012): “Preliminary results of phenotypic/mass selection for egg production traits on  Horro chicken ecotype in Ethiopia” ILRI research report “Village chicken production in central and western highlands of Ethiopia: characteristics and options for improving productivity and marketing” (final draft)19Collaboration Exchange of experiences with people at EgertonUniversity (Kenya) where similar type of project is executed Discussions with Negussie to extend field experiment involving improved Horro to Southern Nations andNationalities region in Ethiopia Hendrix Genetics provided birds for field and station experiment2031/10/201211ConclusionsProject is well on track, motivated project teamPromising results from selection experiments of local breedBreed type comparison in the field and on station: preparations nearly completed, starts in 2013

Progress report of project: Improving village chicken protection to elevate livelihoods of poor people in Ethiopia

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/32833/1/kapoen_progress_oct2012.pdf

Progress report of project: Improving village chicken protection to elevate livelihoods of poor people in Ethiopia

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