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Comparative Efficiency of Four Breeding Strategies for Improvement of Native Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus Linn.) in Smallhold Farming Conditions
Thesis Abstract:
A rapid assessment of smallhold poultry raising in three different regional locations of the country indicated that farmers kept mostly nondescript native chickens in small flocks. While farmers expressed high preferences for faster growth and higher egg production rates typical of the modern exotic breed, they nevertheless prefer the native chickens for their hardiness and adaptability to low-input production system. Practically all the farmers interviewed expressed keen interest in participating in a community-based genetic improvement program of the native chickens. To address these needs to organize a community-based breeding program, four alternative breeding strategies feasible under smallhold farming conditions were designed and simulated by using an electronic spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel). The productive and economic efficiencies of the four strategies were analyzed and compared. Results revealed that strategy 1, where farmers keep small-closed breeding flock, was least desirable mainly because of the effect of inbreeding depression. Alternatively by simply regularly introducing new males, flocks in strategy 2 overcame the effects of inbreeding depression but without any expected genetic improvement in the economic performance. But if farmers impose regular selection for body weight in addition to regular introduction of males (strategy 3), improved economic returns due to increase in marketable weight may be expected. If, however, farmers organize themselves and participate in a community-based nucleus breeding program that will allow them to select both for body weight and reproductive traits (strategy 4), even greater economic returns will accrue to them.