Increased Egg Production in Indigenous Poultry Through Cross-Breeding a Case Study in Hoima

INCREASED EGG PRODUCTION IN INDIGENOUS POULTRY THROUGH CROSS-BREEDING – A CASE STUDY IN HOIMA DISTRICT

P. Sentalo. Veterinary Department, Hoima District Local Government, P.O. Box 2, Hoima, Uganda.

Abstract

The national survey on agriculture production indicates that the farming community in Uganda is comprised of about 70% subsistence farmers, 25% semi-commercial small holder farmers and about 5% commercial farmers (MAAIF, 1997). According to HDPO (1998) Hoima District had 56,754 households and of these 76% kept indigenous poultry on free range at an average of 12 birds per household.

Poultry production is traditionally regarded as an activity for the youths (18-29 years) and women who form the biggest part of the population. Indigenous poultry form an important and cheap source of protein for the rural population. It scavenges for food, easy to house in simple local structures and resists most common poultry diseases. However, it is late maturing (about ten months) and produces very few eggs mainly of small size (CTA 1990:46).

Improvement in the production of the indigenous poultry is one of the polices in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries in order to improve nutrition among the rural households and improve their incomes. A crossbreeding program aimed at improving the egg laying potential of the local chicken while producing a faster growing offspring was started in Hoima District in 1997. Women and youths owning indigenous hens in five villages were given exotic cockerels (light sussex) to crossbreed. The program is supported by technical field workers who hold seminars, informal and formal farmer training, onsite supervision and general extension.

So far, the results are encouraging. The offspring is quick maturing (5-7 months), lays more eggs (about 200 eggs/bird per annum) of greater average size and the beneficiaries are happy. However, the offspring is more susceptible to diseases and requires better management.

Keywords: indigenous poultry, cross-breeding, management, extension.

References

CTA, 1990. The Tropical Agriculturist-Poultry, Macmillan Education Ltd., London.

Hoima District Population Officer (HDPO), 1998. Annual Report (unpublished), Hoima, Uganda.

Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), 1997. Plan for Modernisation of

Agriculture, Eradicating Poverty in Uganda (unpublished), Kampala, Uganda.