Demonstration and Comparative Performance Evaluation of Potchefstroom Koekoek and Dominant Red barred Chicken Breeds

A study was conducted in Raya Azebo and Raya Alemata districts of the southern zone of the Tigray region to demonstrate and evaluate the comparative performance of the dual-purpose Potchefstroom Koekoek and red-barred chicken breeds. Participant households (HHS) were selected purposely based on their interest in constructing a chicken house, covering chicken-rearing costs, and recording the required information. Training on chicken husbandry and health management was provided for the participants hhs, livestock experts, and development agents. A total of 1000-day-old chicks were provided to 20 participants in the Raya Azebo and Raya Alemata districts, with ten hhs receiving Potchefstroom Koekoek chicks and the remainder receiving Dominant Red barred chicks. Starter-formulated rations were also given for the first 30 days of feeding and by then the chickens were scavenged and provided with hh leftovers and other supplements. The survival rates of Potchefstroom Koekoek and Dominant Red barred chicks for the first eight weeks of age were found 90.4 and 88.87%, respectively. The average body weights (BW) at twenty weeks of age were found 1.3 kg and 1.25 kg for Potchefstroom Koekoek and Red barred chicken breeds, respectively. The age at first egg drops were 166 and 159 days for Potchefstroom Koekoek and Red barred chicken breeds, respectively. The average egg weight for the Potchefstroom koekoek chicken breed at first egg drops, 50%, and peak production was 42.0 g, 47.0 g, and 48.60 g, respectively. While 40.2 g, 46.6 g, and 47.8 g were the average egg weights for the Dominant Red barred chicken breed at the same egg production stages. The annual egg production of the Potchefstroom koekoek and Dominant red-barred hen in the present study were 146 and 153 eggs, respectively. It can be concluded that the promotion of improved dual-purpose chicken breeds in rural areas has been an advantage for smallholder farmers as a source of supplementary income that can be added to their livelihoods. Thus, it could be recommended that a step forward should be made for the access of these improved breeds through scaling up and providing appropriate veterinary services and supplemental diets.