DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT OF PULTRY PRODUCTION

TERM PAPER OF IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES OF TRADITIONAL POULTRY (INDIGENOUS

CHICKEN) IN ETHIOPIA

BY: GERBE AMAN ABSENO

ID/NO: GS/R/0146/14

SUBMITTED TO: DEREJE TSEGAYE ( ASSIT PROFF/PhD CANDIDATE)

CONTENT OF PRESENTATION

 Introduction
 Objective
 Literaturereview
 Conclusion
1.INTRODUCTION

 The Indigenous chicken production is characterized by

 a low input (scavenging is almost the only source of
diet),
 low input of veterinary services, minimal level of bio-
security,
 high off-take rates and high levels of mortality.
 Here, there are little or no inputs for housing, feeding or
health care.
 cont’d

 Different interventions and strategies have been implemented at

previous decades to improve the indigenous chicken.
 These are introduction of exotic poultry breeds(RIR, BB and
White leghorn),
 Urban agricultural development local office has given rise to the
emergence of many small scale importer for own use and trading,
 initiation of semi intensive family poultry production,
 MOA Initiation of a cockerel distribution scheme and
 cont’d

 development of a new set of packages intending to

address the extensive and small-extensive scavenging,
 semi-intensive and small-scale intensive family poultry
production systems.
 Also Poultry breeding and multiplication and
distribution is the major one (PMDC).
 . There are different private and government operated poultry
multiplication and distribution centers through the country.
 1.1 Objectives

To discuss the improvement strategies of

traditional (indigenous) chicken in
Ethiopia.
 2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Chicken production systems

 The poultry sector in Ethiopia can be characterized into
three major production systems based on some selected
parameters such as breed, flock size, housing, feed,
health, technology, and bio-security.
 These are village or backyard poultry production system,
small scale poultry production system and commercial
poultry production system.
 cont’d

2.1.1 Backyard poultry production

 This system is characterized by a low input (scavenging
is almost the only source of diet),
 low input of veterinary services,
 minimal level of bio-security,
 high off-take rates and
 high levels of mortality.
 cont’d

 Here, there are little or no inputs for housing, feeding or

health care.
 As such it does not involve investments beyond the cost
of the foundation stock,
a few handfuls of local grains, and possibly simple night
shades,
 mostly night time housing in the family dwellings.
 cont’d

 The poultry are kept in close proximity to the human

population.
 Mostly indigenous chickens are kept although some
hybrid and exotic breeds may be kept under this system.
 The few exotic breeds kept under this system are mainly
a result of the government extension programs.
 cont’d

 The size and composition of flocks kept by households

vary from year to year owing to various reasons such as
mortality from diseases, agricultural activities and
household income needs.
 Mortality in local birds results mainly from disease and
predators as well.
 A research report indicated that 62% of small farmers
reported disease as the major factor for high mortality
while 11% noted predator as a major factor too.
 cont’d

 Newcastle disease is identified as the major killer in the

traditional system while other diseases including a
number of internal and external parasites contribute to
the loss.
 The incidence of Newcastle disease is widespread
during the rainy season. It often wipes out the whole
flocks when it strikes.
 In particular, it was found that poultry production drops
by 50% during the rainy season.
 cont’d

 The typical household flock sizes vary from 2 to 15

chickens.
 Flocks comprise chicks (0 to 8 weeks), pullets (8 to 20
weeks), cockerels (8 to 20 weeks), mature cocks and layers.
 In this system, there exists great variation in the size and
composition of bird flocks per household and it is a common
practice to keep all age and functional groups together.
 Most of the birds kept under the backyard system belong to
indigenous poultry.
 cont’d

 Rearing of indigenous poultry offers farmers nutritional, socio-

cultural and economic benefits.
 In backyard poultry, women are mainly responsible for rearing
poultry.
 The income earned from poultry keeping is used to buy food and
clothes for children.
 Poultry and egg offer a quality protein source throughout most of
the year. Poultry meat and eggs play a role in food security.
 The level of consumption and sale of chickens and eggs varies
during the year.
 2.2 Chicken Multiplication center of Ethiopia

2.2.1 Poultry Breed Improving and Distributing Centers (PMDC)

 Poultry breeding and multiplication center is a center that
selects new and improved types of poultry and conduct
insemination by natural or artificial means.
 The center can supply improved breed of layers and
broilers for poultry farms in the city and to the farmers in
different areas.
 Some PMDCS have their own parent stock and hatchery
facilities from which they multiply and distribute /supply
improved chicken breeds to urban and rural areas.
 cont’d

 There are different private and government operated poultry

multiplication and distribution centers through the country.
 Governmental Centers
 There are government-owned poultry breeding and rearing
centers aimed at providing improved layer, broiler and dual-
purpose chickens of exotic breeds.
 The Ethiopian higher education and research institutions run
several modern poultry farms with the objectives of training and
research.
 The institutions distribute fertile eggs, day-old chicks, pullets and
cockerels for Ministry of Livestock, Feed and Drugs (MoLFD),
NGOs and individuals.
 cont’d

 Governmental centers like, poultry multiplication and

distribution centers (PMDC),
 the Urban and Rural Agricultural Departments (URAD),
 Agricultural Research Institutes such as Debre Zeit
Agricultural Research Centre,
 introduce and distribute exotic breeds, provide improved
extension advice and services and
 to generally exploit the capacity of the sector to boost
rural productivity (with the implications of raising
incomes and providing employment).
 cont’d

 There are more than 15 government owned poultry

breeding and multiplication centers located at
 Mekelle (Tigray), Andassa, Kombolcha (Amhara),
Adama, Fitche, Ambo, Legatafo, Adelle, Bedelle,
Nekemt (Oromiya),
 Awassa (SNNPR), Dire Dawa and Harar that mainly
focus on Rhode Island Red breed.
 The first exploratory PMDC was established in 1985 (in
Kombolcha) and was quickly followed by others during
the 1990s.
 cont’d

 Some PMDCs have their own parent stock and hatchery

from which they multiply and distribute breeding and
production birds to urban and rural areas.
 At the beginning, the PMDCs were mainly involved
with distributing improved poultry breeds to farmers in
rural areas, but
 with better links to urban agricultural departments
(UAD) they now distribute to urban and peri-urban
areas.
Table1. Regional poultry multiplication and distribution centers.

Production/ Distribution 2005

Region Name
Fertile egg DOC Pullets

Tigray Mekele 900,000 1,890,000 100,000

Andassa 1,080,000 18,000 46,800
Amhara Kombolcha 3,500,000 360,000 14,000
Addis Ababa Lega tefo
Adama 388,331 113,373 54,000
Adele 397,485 113,373 54,000
Oromia Ambo 9,000
Fitche 7,200
Kersa 3,000
Nekempt 9,000
Bedelle 627,544 108,838 27,000
Hawassa 1,000,000 180,000 100,000
Soddo 9,000
SNNP Gubrie
Bonga
Figure1. Map of regional poultry multiplication
& distribution centers.
 Private Centers

 In Ethiopia, the private poultry enterprises are situated mostly in

Busheftu areas and surrounding Addis Ababa.
 ELFORA, Alema, and Genesis farms are the major large-scale poultry
enterprises located in Busheftu and
 Ethio-chicken PMDC in Mekelle with its branches throughout the
country are the major private centers of PMDC.
 In the intensive poultry production system, there are also 7 public poultry
multiplication and distribution centers (PMDC) that are
 located in different regions operating with the major objective of
distributing improved exotic breeds to smallholder farmers in the country.
 They have a capacity of delivering nearly 1,236,150 day-old chicks and
485,800 pullets and cocks.
Annual production and distribution of day old chicks from regional
public poultry production and multiplication centers, 2005
Annual production
and distribution
Region
Fertile Day old Pullets and Cocks
Name
egg chicks

Mekele Tigray 900,000 180,000 100,000

Kombolcha Amhara 3,500,000 360,000 140,000

Andassa Oromia 1,080,000 180,000 46,800

Bedele Oromia 627,544 108,838 27,000

Nathreth Oromia 388,331 113,373 54,000

Adele Oromia 397,485 113,939 18,000

Awassa SNNP 1,000,000 180,000 100,000

Total 7,893,360 1,236,150 485,800

2.3 Interventions implemented to improve indigenous chicken

 In the 1970s, the Government of Ethiopia introduced exotic poultry

breeds (RIR, Bovan Brown and White Leg corn) into the country
 to increase egg and meat production in rural areas,
 to genetically improve the native breed and to distribute day-old chicks
of improved breeds to farmers.
 In the 1980s, the MoA initiated a cockerel distribution scheme.
 This involved importation and Distribution of exotic breeds of cockerels
to be used as breeding males in villages.
 cont’d

 The cockerel Distribution scheme failed because farmers

were unwilling to remove their indigenous cocks and the
exotic cocks failed to adapt to the environments.
 During the late 1990s, the Ministry of Agriculture
developed a new set of packages intending to address
 the extensive and small-extensive scavenging, semi-
intensive and small-scale intensive family poultry
production systems.
 The packages presented a number of alternative
intervention schemes suiting the needs of different systems.
 cont’d

 It also attempted to integrate different actors in the

system from input supply to marketing and provision of
credit services.
 However, no part of these packages was implemented.
 The distribution of varying numbers of exotic breeds
(ranging from 15–25 hens) was the sole practice
followed
 to improve the productivity of the family poultry
production systems.
 cont’d

 The government set up several poultry multiplication and

rearing centers countrywide.

 In addition to the PMDCs, there are a handful of other medium-

scale and

 large-scale commercial importers of poultry and

 service materials in both the private and public sectors.

 cont’d

 Over the past couple of years, small and micro enterprises (SMEs)
have become involved in DOC growing and other specialized
activities related to poultry production.
 This has occurred as part of the country's initiative to expand
employment opportunities for youth and women around towns and
cities.
 This scheme consists of a contractual arrangement with large private
poultry companies that supply vaccinated DOCs and
 feed to raise the chickens until 45 days of age with technical
backstopping of the government extension services.
 cont’d

 The 45-day old chickens are eventually distributed

chiefly to the scavenging family poultry producers
through the extension system.
 Although lack of adequate extension support and poor
market linkages challenged the scheme it seems to hold
a promising future.
 cont’d

 The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA)

initiated in the middle of the GTP II period (2016 –
2020) which aims
 to transform the scavenging family poultry systems into
semi-intensive family poultry production systems in
 selected poultry commercialization clusters located in
the SNNPR, Oromia, Amhara and Tigray region.
 cont’d

 The poultry development road map was prepared in the context

of the
 country's growth and transformation plan (GTP II, 2016–2020)
and its subsequent phases projected until 2030.
 The MoA is expected to release the final version of this document.
 The EIAR has also developed a comprehensive research strategy
for the coming 15 years 2016–2030 (EIAR, 2017)
 to support the development goals anticipated in the poultry sector.
 cont’d

The other important recent initiative of the MoA relates:

 to improving the existing poor veterinary services through
privatizing the delivery of veterinary clinical services and
 upgrading the public veterinary services.
 The MoA developed the veterinary rationalization road
map which is expected to be implemented soon.
 2.4 Strategies followed to improve the indigenous poultry
production

 Agricultural Development Led Industrialization strategy

 Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy
 The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II, 2016–2020)
 The Ethiopian Livestock Master Plan (LMP)
 Trade policy
 2.5 Road maps, strategies and legislations

The poultry development road map;

Veterinary rationalization road map;
Legislation for regulation of veterinary drugs and
animal feeds administration and control; and
Livestock and fisheries research strategies (2016–
2030).
 3. CONCLUSION

 The Indigenous chicken production is characterized by: -

a low input which leads to low egg production,
 minimal level of bio-security, high off-take rates and
 high levels of mortality.
 Mostly indigenous chickens are kept although some hybrid
and exotic breeds may be kept under this system.
 cont’d

 Some interventions and strategies have been implemented at past time

to improve the indigenous chicken. These are
 introduction of exotic poultry breeds(RIR, BB and White leghorn),
 Urban agricultural development local office has given rise to the
emergence of many small scale importer for own use and trading,
 initiation of semi intensive family poultry production,
 MOA Initiation of a cockerel distribution scheme and PMDC
approach.
 RECOMMENDATIONS

 The evolution of the poultry sector in the country in recent

times has highlighted the growing importance of small-
and medium-scale producers in urban and peri-urban areas.
 But this is not enough since 98% of the countries chicken
is indigenous.
 cont’d

 The commitment of the government with promoting poultry farming

and
 supporting the industry with the establishment of the network of
PMDCs is encouraging even though it is not enough to support the
expected outcome.
 Therefore the government has to pay much attention that PMDCS
should have to operate in their full capacity and
 expansion has to be done. Those PMDCS which has been closed is
best if they back to operation.
 cont’d

 Intensive based production system has to be expanded

throughout the country and
 different interventions has to be implemented to improve the
countries traditional production system
 their by contributing the food self-sufficiency program of the
country.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!