Veterinary Science & Technology

Assessment of Major Constraints of Small Scale Intensive Chicken Farms in and around Nekemte, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Gemechis Regasa*, Hagazi Fantay Tadesse and Getachew Derbew Belay

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 with the objective of identifying the major constraints of small scale intensive chicken farms in and around Nekemte. All available small scale intensive chicken farms at Nekemte (n=43) were assessed. Data were collected using a semi structured questionnaire on possible chicken farm constraint from chicken farm workers up on interview. Recorded data were entered to Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Disease, Chicken feed, farm management and market were the major constraints. Newcastle disease has been identified as the most prevalent disease (occurred in 37.2% farms) followed by fowl cholera (13.9%) with Marek’s disease being the least (6.97%). High price of chicken feed (in 53.4% farms) and shortage in supply (in 11.6% farms) were identified as feed related challenges. 55.81% chicken farms used pot charcoal to brood chicken during early stages. Chicken farms have also faced market challenges due to longer fasting periods (in 30.23% farms), inappropriate market chain (in 25.58% farms) and low price of chicken products as compared to costs for production (in 20.93% farms). In general, assessed small scale intensive chicken farms were having constraints related with disease, chicken feed, management and market. Therefore, government should encourage chicken feed manufacturers, increase veterinary service, design appropriate market chain and provide trainings to farm workers on farm management practices in order to minimize chicken farm constraints and assure feed security in general.