Production practices of the native chicken growers in Western Visayas

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the production practices of the native chicken growers in the top three native chicken municipalities of all provinces in Western Visayas. This is a purely descriptive study that utilized the one-shot survey design. The study focused only in gathering data that can establish the production practices of the native chicken growers in the top three native chicken producing municipalities of all the provinces in Western Visayas. Face to face interview of the native chicken raisers was conducted. Results of the study revealed that the native chicken growers had been into native chicken production for an average of 17.5 years. They have an average of 16.2 heads of hens and 4.4 heads of roosters for breeding or an average of 1 rooster to 4 hens. Their breeders were mostly upgraded native chicken, followed by Darag and Jolo. These breeders were generally own grown. The native chicken growers generally raised their native chicken in free range. The usual feedstuffs given by the native chicken growers to their native chickens were more or less the same for pullets, cockerels, hens and roosters. Their most common feedstuff was corn/cracked corn, followed by rice bran, home mixed ration, filled/unfilled palay and rice/milled rice. The native chicken growers generally broadcast the feeds on the ground when feeding their chickens. Amount of feeds given to native chickens varied according to the stage of growth of chickens. The mean estimated expenditure for feeds was Php 491.90 per month. Higher incidence of mortality among native chickens was observed by the respondents to start in the month of March, peaks in the month of June and dwindles towards the month of August. They largely attributed this mortality to change in climate, diseases and pests. Pests commonly observed by the growers included avian pest and rats while the most common diseases included cold/flu, respiratory diseases, pneumonia, and New Castle Disease. The growers were more likely to sell more pullets and cockerels than hens or roosters. Their mean number of pullets sold per month was 5.6 while the average number of cockerels sold per month is 6.4 heads. The respondents had sold an average of 3.4 heads of hens per month. The prices of native chicken generally vary according to their classification. Mean price of hens and roosters were Php 192.60 and Php 218.90 per head, respectively. Chicks were sold from Php 70.00 to Php 80.00 or an average of Php 73.30 per head. The respondents claimed that they have observed lean, normal or peak months in native chicken production. They considered the months of June to August as lean months; the months of September to November as normal months; and months of December to March as peak months. The growers believed that one of the major factors affecting the volume of native chicken sold was the supply and demand of native chicken. Other factors identified by most respondents were financial needs for production of native chicken, climatic factors, price of native chicken, and occurrence of pests and diseases. The growers identified diseases as the main problem followed by change in climate, pests, and lack of capital to afford expensive feeds. The native chicken growers have plans for expansion. The proportion of growers with plan to expand was highest in Aklan and lowest in Iloilo.