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

摘要

Localchickensplayanimportantroleforsmallholdersandcontributesignificantlytofoodsecurityofhouseholdsinruralandsemi-urbancommunities.However,thepoultrysectorisbesetwithlowproductivityinNigeria.ThepresentstudyaimedatimprovingtheperformanceofruralchickensinNasarawaStatethroughcockerelexchangeprogramme.Atotalofonehundredandeighty(180),25-weekoldcockerelswereobtainedfromareputablefarmintheState.Fortyeight(48)householdsfromDankaSarkiExtensionVillage(University#8217;sExtensionModelVillage)andten(10)householdsfromCOALStaffquarterswererandomlyselected.Eachparticipatingfarmer(household)wasgivencockerelsdependingonthenumbergiveninreturnforhis/herowncock(s).Pre-andPost-trialinformationwasobtainedonflocksize,numberofchicks,growers,cocksandhensincludingnumberofclutch/bird,eggs/clutch,eggshatchedperclutch,mortalityandbodyweightsofchicksandgrowers.nbsp;Therewasnosignificantdifferenceintheflocksizeofbirdsbeforeinterventionandafterintervention.Themortalityrateofchicks/clutchandgrowers/clutchwithinthefirstninemonthsofstudydecreasedasaresultoftheintroductionofcockerels.Similarly,bodyweightsofchicksandgrowersofpost-interventionbirdswerehigher.Thedistributionofcockerels(improvedexoticbirds)totherurallivestockfarmersinthestudyareasappearedtocontributetoimprovedvillagechickenproduction.