Abstract:
The assessment of technology adoption for free range local chicken improvement was
carried out using a sample of one hundred and twenty (120) farmers, fifty trained farmers,
fifty neighbouring farmers and twenty control farmers. A structured questionnaire was
used. Other data were obtained by direct measurement of eggs and adult live birds.
Multiple Range Test (MRT) was used to separate the means especially for the production
data. Results indicated that adoption rate among the trained farmers were high, being 92%,
88%, 92% and 56% in use of supplementary feeds, disease control, chick management
and improved housing respectively. As for neighbours the values were 60%, 68%, 54%
and 50% respectively. Much lower adoption was observed in control group values ranging
from 20-55%. Record keeping was lowly adopted by all groups. Availability` of extension
services, education level and veterinary services influenced adoption rate significantly
(P<0.05). Trained farmers group had significantly (P<0.001) higher values for eggs weight
and (P<0.05) flock size than the other categories.
Male and female adult bird weights
were significantly (P<0.001) higher for trained farmers than untrained farmers. Mature
laying hens in the flock increased from 16% to 40%. Eggs laid/hen/cycle increased from 8-
15 to 15-25, chicks hatched/hen/cycle increased from 9-12 to 10-16, chick mortality was
reduced from 65% to 30%, while grower mortality was reduced from 50% to 20%. It is
concluded that, relatively simple interventions such as feed supplementation, disease
control and housing, in small-scale free range local chicken production, may significantly
improve their production within a relatively short period of about 1-2 years.
