Pre-extension Popularization of Improved Dual Purpose Koekoek Chickens in Tahtay Maichew District Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Central zone of Tigray has potential and poultry stock. However, the productivity in terms of egg and meat is low since the majority of household depends on local chickens and rearing of their chickens through a traditional production practices. Then, the objectives of the pre-extension popularization of Koekoek breed was i) to popularize and evaluate the production performance the Koekoek breed chickens in the small holder Farmers and ii) To analyze farmers feedback towards this improved Koekoek chickens breed at smallholder farmers' management. T/maichew District, My-sie kebelle was selected based on the project financial support of Irish Aid Operational Research (OR) purposely. A total of 17 household heads willingly participated to adopt the Koekoek breeds. Data record sheet and semi-structured questionnaires were prepared to collect the required data. Then, using simple descriptive and Likert measurement level used to achieve result. The finding of the research shows that an annual average yield was found to be 204 eggs per year/ chicken. Similarly, the respondents agreed on that the chickens have well adapted, good growing ability, relatively resistance to diseases, have good scavenging ability, and productivity as well have medium eggs size and good egg and meat tasty of Koekoek chickens. The improved chickens’ breed (Koekoek) is better to be transferred to other mandate areas of Axum Agricultural Research Center. In addition, collaboration of stakeholders needs to be strengthening so that large scale demonstration community production system is going to be functional. Strengthen the human resource and institutional innovations are important point for dissemination of the improved poultry breeds to all beneficiaries of small holder farmers.