Mukono-Uganda.
A new enhanced indigenous breed of chicken from MUZARDI is set to advance and promote the poultry farming sector in Uganda.
Integrating advanced thorough crossbreeding techniques, MUZARDI aims to empower all farmers with a superior breed that enhances yields and ensures long-term viability.
The improved breed follows a study initiated in 2021 and supported with funding from the Government of Uganda and the European Union under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU).
This website has established that Ugx694 million was allocated to the program. Its main objective is to address the low productivity of indigenous chicken which has been attributed to low genetic potential, inadequate nutrition, and challenges in disease control.
Researchers at MUZARDI say that their study did not aim at inventing a new species through laboratory science. Instead, they focused on cross-breeding carefully selected indigenous chicken from various regions of the country including the Central region where the breeds are usually mixed up.
According to Dr. Barbara Zawedde, the Research Director at MUZARDI, the institute established a unit to support the national indigenous chicken seed system. This initiative aims to assist rural households in transitioning to commercial poultry farming practices.
She further highlighted that in many rural areas, people engage in small-scale local chicken farming, often employing free-range systems to obtain limited quantities of eggs and meat for household consumption.
However, with the introduction of these improvements, farmers now have the potential to generate significant income from poultry farming.
“The main work involved in our research is remodelling of the units into poultry breeder and seed holding units (biosecurity and reception unit, hatchery unit, research/production units, bio waste incinerator) to produce fertile eggs and day-old chicks to be supplied to selected hatcheries with fertile eggs and farmers with day-old chicks,” she said.
According to MUZARDI, the new breed is way more productive and exceeds unimproved breeds in terms of growth rates and laying potential. While unimproved chickens typically yield less than 80 eggs annually, the new breed from MUZARDI demonstrates a remarkable increase, producing up to 200 eggs per year.
The new breed exhibits accelerated egg-laying capabilities, commencing egg production as early as five months of age. In contrast, unimproved breeds typically require over nine months to reach the same level of egg-laying maturity.
Henry Mulindwa, the Principal Research Officer at MUZARDI, further highlights the remarkable qualities of the improved breed, noting its resilience to various diseases.
They can ably thrive on homemade feed rations and can freely range, further enhancing their adaptability. By five months of age, he adds, they exhibit impressive weight gains, with cocks gaining an average of 2.7 kilograms and hens 1.8 kilograms.
Additionally, besides providing abundant eggs and tasty meat for consumption, these chickens are known for their exceptional productivity.
Mulindwa says the institute has developed a model of collaborating with multipliers in different parts of the country to advance the spread of the advanced breed.
According to Richard Lumu, a Livestock Technician at MUZARDI, their approach will not immediately transition to cage systems. Instead, they plan to implement semi-intensive systems, which enable farmers to confine their birds within a controlled environment while providing them with optimal nutrition.
This method aims to strike a balance between confinement and freedom, ultimately supporting the birds’ health and productivity while facilitating easier management for farmers.
He further explained that once a farmer establishes a semi-intensive poultry housing system, he is required to mix 100kgs for chicken during the brooding stage with 23kg of maize, 46.5 kg of maize bran, 16.4 of soya, 13.5 of fish, 0.1g of salt, 0.2g of mineral mix, 0.2g of lysine and also 0.1g of methionine.
However, already some farmers have expressed a positive reception towards the study and the enhanced breed, noting its potential to yield significant benefits.
They anticipate savings in feed costs and a reduction in the time required to rear local breeds before they are ready for consumption.
This promising outlook reflects the widespread optimism within the farming community regarding the potential impact of MUZARDI’s research on their livelihoods and agricultural practices.
Charles Wendo, a farmer from Seeta town, recounts attempting to get local poultry chicken from upcountry, only to be frustrated as the majority of the birds died or failed to thrive.
However, he recently discovered that MUZARDI had developed an improved local breed which marks a turning point for Wendo and other farmers like him by offering renewed hope for success in poultry farming endeavours.
Wendo explains that he purchased 200 chicken which have since matured and are on the verge of laying eggs. He expresses optimism about multiplying the breed, indicating a promising future for his poultry venture.
Meanwhile, Sipiriano Kwiiri, a farmer from Nakasajja, shares his experience of maintaining over 1300 local chickens. However, he highlights challenges such as slow growth rates, high feed requirements, and low egg production.
This highlights the need for improved breeds which offer solutions to common issues faced by farmers like Kwiiri.
“MUZARDI’s new research is timely since it has opened up their eyes on feeds, and how they are applied to have better results. I hope to acquire the new breed to reduce feeding costs significantly,” he says.
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