Comparison of different poultry breeds under station and on-farm conditions in Ethiopia

A selective breeding program was implemented to improve the performance of indigenous chickens. Improved chicken from the 7th generation was compared with commercial layer, crossbred and unselected indigenous chickens both on-station and on-farm. A total of 870 chickens were used. More than 600 chickens (n=150 and n=120 from each breed during growing and laying period respectively) arranged in completely randomized design were followed on-station, and 270 (90 from commercial, crossbred and improved during laying period) were evaluated on-farm in Ada (n=6 farms) and Horro (n=9 farms) districts in a split-plot design. Body weight, cumulative feed intake, and survival were recorded while feed conversion ratio was calculated at week 8, 12, 16 and 20 during the growing period on-station. Age at first egg and total egg number during lifetime were recorded once. Survival and hen housed egg production were recorded at month 3, 6, 9 and 12 of age both on-station and on-farm. Egg weight, and feed per egg were recorded and used to calculate feed conversion ratio during the laying period on-station. Significant effect of breed (P