Indigenous chicken production in kenya; characterization of the production systems and inclusion of molaplus probiotic in the feeding strategy in Baringo and Kisumu counties

Abstract

A study was conducted to characterize the production systems practiced by indigenous chicken farmers in Kisumu and Baringo Counties, with a view to assess whether the indigenous chicken feeding practices is appropriate and adequate in order to innovate possible ways of improving feed utilization and efficiency. A survey was conducted; feed resources were sampled, feeding trials done and the feedstuffs analyzed. A cafeteria feeding experiment was designed under a complete randomized design and feed intake determined for 15 female indigenous chicken for 21 days. Feeding trial was done using locally compounded feed and body weights for 150 chicken used during the study were measured weekly for an eight weeks trial with molaplus probiotic feed additive. The feedstuffs collected in the field such as omena/ochonga, kienyeji mash, rice germ, sorghum grains, millet grains and maize grains were analyzed for proximate composition, levels of critical amino acids and aflatoxins. On-station evaluation for feeding value for appropriate chicken feeds formulated using the collected feedstuffs, supplemented with probiotics feed additive and fed to 150 indigenous chicken to establish the performance of the indigenous chicken. Data management and analysis was done using SAS 9.0 and SPSS version 17. The survey results showed that more educated young men from Baringo are practicing indigenous chicken production compared to those from Kisumu. There are more indigenous chicken in Baringo which attain maturity earlier in terms of point at first lay and crow compared to indigenous chicken from Kisumu. There are significant differences in feeding strategies and performance of indigenous chicken among the pastoral and fishing communities in both Counties. Incidences of lack of all the critical amino acids in feed ingredients and high contamination level of total aflatoxins was detected in local indigenous chicken feedstuffs. Supplementation of local feeds with 5ml of molaplus poultry additive in 1000ml drinking water improved growth rates in indigenous chicken. The source of aflatoxins contamination in feedstuffs in IC should be investigated and the use of aflatoxin binders in indigenous chicken feed should be studied. Amino acids profiling of commercial feeds used by indigenous chicken farmers in Kisumu and Baringo Counties should be done. Further culturing should be done on Molaplus poultry microbes to define its actual probiotic composition and also determine its other beneficial effects on blood parameters, egg and meat qualities of indigenous chicken.