On-farm comparative evaluation of production performance of tropically adapted exotic chicken breeds in western Amhara, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to evaluate the on-farm growth and egg production performance of 3 tropically adapted chicken breeds in western Amhara region of Ethiopia. Kuroiler, Sasso and Sasso-R were tested under the on-farm condition for 45 wk. In total 216 were included in the on-farm test. Breed by location interaction affects the body weight and daily weight gain, egg production, hen-day egg production percentage, and egg weight. Kuroiler exhibited higher body weight as Sasso in the mid-altitude than other breed by location interactions. Kuroiler at south Achefer (mid altitude) had the better daily gain than the other breed by location interactions. Sasso (111.8 ± 3.9 eggs) and Kuroiler (112.22 ± 3.53) in south Achefer (mid-land) and Kuroiler in Banija (high-land) produced significantly higher egg production up to 45 wk than the other strain by location interactions. In all locations slightly higher survivability up to 44 wk was observed for Kurolier than the other breeds. In general, differences in live weight, daily gain, egg production and egg weight could be attributed to differences in genotypes, environment differences and their interaction. Kuroiler in the high land, Sasso and Sasso-R in the mid-land were producing on average 187, 180, and 150%, respectively, more eggs than nationally reported local chicken. Therefore, Kuroiler and Sasso are recommended to be reared in the study area. Further evaluation on different traits of these breeds and their crosses with local chickens under different management systems should be undertaken.