Rhode Island Red Poultry Production and Management in Halaba Special Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This research was studied to assess the production and management system of Rhode Island Red chickens in Halaba special Woreda, southern Ethiopia. For the study 7 Kebeles were selected purposively based on the number and intensity of Rhode Island Red poultry production. Fifteen respondents were selected from each Kebeles purposively based on the experience of RIR poultry production. Thus, a total of 105 respondents were included in the study. The research used both primary & secondary data. The required primary data was gathered using interview, observation while the secondary data used were obtained from written document. The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics. About 78.0% of the respondents were male headed while 22.0% were female headed. From the interviewed respondent about 31.4% completed primary educations. In the study area, chicken production and management system were mainly reared based on cereal crops and household wastes. About 55.2% of the respondents used semi-extensive methods of management system. With regard to flock composition about 42.8% of the Rhode Island Red was layers. The majority (60%) of the respondents used cereal crops, such as wheat, corn, sorghum and etc as a main feed source for their poultry. About 51.4% of respondents supply feed for RIR poultry in addition to scavenging twice per-a-day early on the morning and late in the evening. Majority of the respondents (80%) used non-separated housing system, which they live together with human and livestock. In the study area about 31.4% indicated that disease was the main constraints of poultry production. The study also recommended that in order to increase the production of RIR in the study area improving the management of RIR poultry breed should be of primary practice. Moreover, improvements of feeding, housing, and the overall managements of poultry, vaccinating them before disease and treating them is highly needed to increase for poultry production.