EVALUATING THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL KEI CHICKENS AND THEIR F1-CROSSES WITH RHODE ISLAND RED AND FAYOUMI BREEDS IN WATERSHED AREAS OF GURAGHE ADMINISTRATIVE ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study describes the on-farm performance of local Kei chicken and its F1 crosses with Fayoumi and Rhode Island Red (RIR) breeds in Beresa watershed of Guraghe administrative zone, southern Ethiopia. The Kei paternal line was mated with maternal lines of Fayoumi and RIR chickens to produce F1-crosses. Body weight developments and feed intake were determined on weekly basis. Then body weight gain and feed efficiency ratios (FER, weight gain: feed) were calculated. Hatchability was 59.0% and 73.7%, 54.7% for Kei, Fayoumi-crosses and RIR-crosses, respectively. In male chicks, the mean day-old weight ranged from 28.8 to 40.1 g and in female chicks from 26.2 to 35.8 g. The average body weight of matured male and female RIR-crosses was 1682 and 1227 g, respectively. The corresponding values for Fayoumi-crosses were 1310 and 1054 g and that of local Kei 1273 and 987 g. During the brooding period, the average daily feed intake was 25.9, 27.0 and 24.4 g for Kei, Fayoumi-crosses and RIR-crosses, respectively. The mean FER was 0.197, 0.213 and 0.243 g for Kei, Fayoumi-crosses and RIR-crosses, respectively. The average age at sexual maturity for Kei, Fayoumi-crosses and RIR-crosses was 183, 154 and 162 days, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that both F1-crosses showed a significant improvement in body weight, weight gain and FER under farmers’ management condition of the watershed areas suggesting the suitability of both genetic combinations with local Kei chickens for on-farm chicken productivity.