Preliminary investigation on community-based intervention through cockerel exchange programme for sustainable improved rural chicken production in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

A Yakubu, M M Ari, A O Ogbe¹, D M Ogah, M M Adua, K O Idahor, S E Alu, A S Ishaq and E S Salau²

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus, P.M.B. 135, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
abdulmojyak@gmail.com
¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Abuja, Nigeria
² Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus,
P.M.B. 135, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Local chickens play an important role for smallholders and contribute significantly to food security of households in rural and semi-urban communities. However, the poultry sector is beset with low productivity in Nigeria. The present study aimed at improving the performance of rural chickens in Nasarawa State through cockerel exchange programme. A total of one hundred and eighty (180), 25-week old cockerels were obtained from a reputable farm in the State. Forty eight (48) households from Danka Sarki Extension Village (University’s Extension Model Village) and ten (10) households from COAL Staff quarters were randomly selected. Each participating farmer (household) was given cockerels depending on the number given in return for his/her own cock(s). Pre- and Post-trial information was obtained on flock size, number of chicks, growers, cocks and hens including number of clutch/bird, eggs/clutch, eggs hatched per clutch, mortality and body weights of chicks and growers.

There was no significant difference in the flock size of birds before intervention and after intervention. The mortality rate of chicks/clutch and growers/clutch within the first nine months of study decreased as a result of the introduction of cockerels. Similarly, body weights of chicks and growers of post-intervention birds were higher. The distribution of cockerels (improved exotic birds) to the rural livestock farmers in the study areas appeared to contribute to improved village chicken production.

Key words: households, improvement, village chicken

Introduction

There has been growing global concern over the worsening problems of poverty, hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. With the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the international community has agreed to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger as one of its primary targets (Stroebel et al 2011). Livestock contribute to the livelihoods of an estimated 70% of the world's rural poor, and account for about 20% of the global trade of agricultural products. Livestock is one of the fastest growing agricultural subsectors in developing countries (Van der Zijjp et al 2010; Yakubu et al 2012). It is estimated that meat, milk and eggs provide about 20% of the protein in African diets, and around 70% of the human population of Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria inclusive) are primarily or partly dependent on livestock. Indigenous chickens are widely distributed in the rural areas of tropical and sub-tropical countries where they are kept by the majority of the rural poor. Indigenous chickens in Africa are in general hardy, adaptive to rural environments, survive on little or no inputs and adjust to fluctuations in feed availability (Ajayi 2010).

Village chicken production in Nasarawa State is beset with some problems. These include, low productivity, poor feeding, insufficient capital and incidence of pest and diseases (Ajayi et al 2007a and b). In order to address the problem of low productivity of village chickens in Nasarawa State; crossbreeding, an elementary technique can be used. It has its justification in the improvement of farm animal productivity and adaptability under tropical conditions. Ajayi et al (2012) suggested the suitability of exotic chickens for crossbreeding programmes, which when mated with indigenous stocks, will ultimately improve the growth and carcass traits potentials of Nigerian indigenous chickens. The objective of the present study was to improve the performance of rural chickens through cockerel exchange programme without changing the cultural and farming system.

Materials and Methods

Management of cockerels on-station

A total of one hundred and eighty (180), 25-week old cockerels were obtained from a reputable farm in Nasarawa State, north central Nigeria. The birds were reared on deep litter at the Livestock Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus. They were fed growers’ ration containing 16% CP and 2750kcal ME/kg from the 25^th to 27^th week of age. Fresh clean water was also supplied ad libitum. Routine management practices were strictly adhered to.

Selection of participating communities/households

48 households from Danka Sarki Extension Village (Nasarawa State University’s Extension Model Village) and 10 households from College of Agriculture, Lafia (COAL) Staff quarters which is within a distance of 5km from the Extension Model Village were randomly selected.

Training of selected village chicken farmers

Prior to the commencement of the on farm trial involving the distribution of cockerels to farmers, they were trained for one day to afford them the opportunity to understand the whole project concept. It also equipped farmers with techniques to follow after the project phase for the sake of sustainability of the project. Training covered various aspects relating to rural poultry management, feed supplementation and disease control. 

Management of cockerels on-farm

Each participating farmer (household) was given cockerels from the Faculty Teaching and Research Farm depending on the number given in return for his/her own cock(s) (Figure 1). The cockerels were managed under the traditional free range system where they mated randomly with village hens. All the available local cocks within the study area were mopped before the commencement of the study.

Figure 1. The village Head and some community members of Danka Sarki (part of study area) during the distribution of cockerels to farmers

Data collection

For the on-farm trial (free range system), data were obtained on flock size, number of chicks, growers, cocks and hens including number of clutch/bird, eggs/clutch, eggs hatched per clutch, mortality and body weights of chicks and growers. Pre-trial information on village chicken production in the selected study sites was obtained using structured questionnaires and interview schedules.

Statistical analysis

Data on flock composition were estimated using the mean procedure of SPSS (2010). The independent-samples T Test was used to compare data on pre-trial and post-trial village chicken production in the selected areas.

Results and discussion

The average flock size, chick, grower, cock, hen and cock-hen ratio before and after intervention in the study area are shown in Table 1. The parameters were similar before and after the introduction of exotic cockerels. Mean flock size of 28.7 have been recorded for free range village chickens by Aboe et al (2006), 9 and 5.6 chickens per holding reported for Tswana and Jamma chickens, respectively (Aganga et al 2000; Mammo et al 2008), 13.9 by Yakubu (2010), the range of 5 to 20 by Sonaiya and Swan (2004) and 17 in Zimbabwe (Muchadeyi et al 2004).

The performance characteristics of the birds within the first nine months of study are shown in Table 2. The number of clutches/bird, number of eggs/clutch and number of eggs hatched per clutch were not significantly affected. However, chick and grower’s mortality was lower in Post-intervention birds. The performance values obtained in this study are similar to those reported earlier by Yakubu (2010). Since the mortality rate was lower in chicks and growers during post-intervention, it implies that more birds will reach the adult stage. This will lead to the availability of more birds for procreation with probable increase in number of offspring and birds that will be taken for sale and consumption.

The body weights (g) of birds within the first nine months of study are shown in Table 3. The body weight of chicks and growers were higher in post-intervention birds compared to their pre-intervention counterparts. The superior body weight advantage is an indication that the birds will reach sexual maturity earlier and may attract better price when taken to the market. The better performance of birds crossed with cockerels could be attributed to heterosis, which tend to confer great advantage on the progeny as a result of the combination of the good productive ability of the exotic cockerel and the adaptive capability of the Nigerian indigenous chickens. According to Rajkumar et al (2011), heterosis is almost exclusively the aggregate of all single locus dominance effects, and because these are usually positive or beneficial, heterosis can be expected to be usually in the favourable direction. Various crossbreeding programmes between local chickens and improved (exotic) chickens had been initiated in an attempt to combine desirable features from these two diverse genetic groups (that is high productivity from exotic genotypes and high adaptability from local chicken genotypes) (Katule 1990; Rajkumar et al 2011). Similarly, Ngunjiri (1995) reported that a rural poultry improvement programme, which included a cockerel exchange component, resulted in progressive improvements over the years.

Conclusion

• The distribution of cockerels (improved exotic birds) to the rural livestock farmers in the study areas appeared to contribute to improved village chicken production with higher body weight and reduced number of chick and growers’ mortality.

  
  

• It is recommended based on the scope of this study (preliminary) that the State government and other policy makers should endeavour to encourage farmers to adopt the cockerel exchange programme.

  
  

• However, efforts should be made to conserve in specialized breeding centres the local stock for future use because of the possession of some adaptability traits.

Acknowledgement

This study was funded from the Nigerian government Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) research grant (TETFUND/ESSD/AIBRA/RA/S510/B) awarded to the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus in 2012; and is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks to all the Staff of the Faculty and farmers that were involved in the project. 

References

Aboe P A T, Boa-Amponsem K, Okantah S A, Butler E A, Dorward P T and Brant M J 2006 Free-range village chickens on the Accra Plains, Ghana: Their husbandry and productivity. Tropical Animal Health and Production 38: 235-248. 

Aganga A A, Omphile U J, Malope P, Chabanga C H, Motsamai G M and Motsumi L G 2000 Traditional poultry production and commercial broiler alternatives for small-holder farmers in Botswana. Livestock Research for Rural Development 12: http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd12/4/Aga124a.htm 

Ajayi O O Adeleke M A, Sanni M T, Yakubu A, Peters S O, Imumorin I G, Ikeobi C O N, Ozoje M O and Adebambo O A 2012 Application of principal component and discriminant analyses to morphostructural indices of indigenous and exotic chickens raised under intensive management system. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44: 1089-1095. 

Ajayi F O 2010 Nigerian indigenous chicken: A valuable genetic resources for meat and egg production. Asian Journal of Poultry Science 4: 164-172. 

Ajayi F A, Yakubu A and Okunsebor S A 2007a Livestock and Fish production. In: Akwa, V. L., Binbol, N. L., Samaila, K. I. and Marcus, N. D. (Eds). Geographical perspective on Nasarawa State. 1^st edition, Onaivi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Pp. 72-80. 

Ajayi F A, Okunsebor S A and Yakubu A 2007b Pests and diseases of crops, livestock and fish. In: Akwa, V.L., Binbol, N.L., Samaila, K.I. and Marcus, N.D.(Eds). Geographical perspective on Nasarawa State. 1^st edition, Onaivi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Pp. 81 – 89. 

Katule A M and Mgheno M 1990 Performance of crosses between exotic and local Tanzania chickens. In: Proceedings of the 4^th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Edinburgh, 16: 62–64. 

Mammo M, Berhan T and Tadelle D 2008 Village chicken characteristics and their seasonal production situation in Jamma District South Wollo, Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development, vol. 20: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/7/ meng20109.htm. 

Muchadeyi F C, Sibanda S, Kusina N T, Kusina J and Makuza, S  2004 The village chicken production system in Rushinga District of Zimbabwe.  Livestock Research for Rural Development, Vol. 16, Art. #40. Retrieved July 16, 114, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd16/6/much16040.htm. 

Ngunjiri C 1995 National rural poultry improvement programme in Kenya. In: Proceedings Village Chicken Symposium, 6 – 9 December, 1995, Pretoria.  

Rajkumar U, Sharma R P, Padhi M K, Rajaravindra K S, Reddy B L N, Niranjan M, Bhattacharya T K, Haunshi S and Chatterjee R N 2011 Genetic analysis of juvenile growth and carcass traits in a full diallel mating in selected colored broiler lines. Tropical Animal Health and Production 43: 1129-1136. 

SPSS 2010 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. SPSS Inc., 444 Michigan Avenue, Chicago. 

Sonaiya E B and Swan E S J 2004 Small scale poultry production technical guide. Animal Production and Health Manual 1.FAO of United Nations. Rome, Italy, 2004. 114p http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5169e/y5169e00.htm. 

Stroebel A, Swanepoel F J C and Pell A N 2011 Sustainable smallholder livestock systems: A case study of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Livestock Science 139: 186-190. 

Van der Zijjp A, Wilke P and Carsan S 2010 Sustainable livestock intensification. In: Swanepoel, F.J.C., Stroebel, A., Moyo, S. (Eds.), The Role of Livestock in Developing Communities: Enhancing Multifunctionality. CTA,Wageningen, The Netherlands. 

Yakubu A, Peters S O, Ilori B M, Imumorin I G, Adeleke M A, Takeet M I, Ozoje M O, Ikeobi C O N and Adebambo O A 2012 Multifactorial discriminant analysis of morphological and heat tolerant traits in indigenous, exotic and crossbred turkeys in Nigeria. Animal Genetic Resources 50: 21-27. 

Yakubu A 2010 Indigenous chicken flocks of Nasarawa State, north central Nigeria: Their characteristics, husbandry and productivity. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems 12: 69-76. 

Received 18 July 2014; Accepted 12 September 2014; Published 3 October 2014

Go to top