A conceptual review on cock exchange and culling programmes: implications for genetic improvement of local chicken gene pool

SUMMARY

The cock exchange program, under delineated geographical location, is one of the best strategies to introduce the desired genes into a local chicken gene pool. It also has success stories in performance improvement of the local chicken population under smallholder management conditions. A cock exchange program, to be effective, should be complemented with improved chicken management practices (Increased amounts of alternate feed, enhanced management, and disease control).

KEYWORDS:

• Genetic Model
• crossbreeding
• scavenging production
• husbandry
• selection
• chicken

Acknowledgements

My great thanks and appreciation go to Woldia University for creating good working environment.

Disclosure statement

I confirm that this review article has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. The author has approved the manuscript and agrees with its submission to the World’s poultry science journal.