Rural chickens are the most numerous widely distributed in Tanzania accounting for about 95% of the toal domesticated poultry in traditional sector. Most of the chickens are kept as scavengers of the free-range characterised by wide a range of management, limited supply of energy and protein due to seasonal changes in quantity and quality of scavengeable feed resources. These and other factors such as long reproductive cycles restrict the potential of rual chickens. This study aims at studying effects of these factors on the performance of rural chickens and developing appropriate feeding and management strategies for increased overall productivity of the rual poultry.
[Results]:
Levels of critical nutrients in the diets of scavening chickens in relation to age, physiology and production identified. Appropriate levels of protein and energy supplementation under free range system tested and recommended to the farmers. Simulation of the effects of nutritional and mangement strategies (interventions) on flock productivity to understand and predict system dynamics validated for rural poultry |
