Performance of local and local x improved chicken crosses under semi-intensive management system in Northern Uganda

Figures & data

Table 1. Composition of the experimental diets

Feedstuffs	% Composition
Maize bran	50
Fish meal	6
Sunflower seed cake	14
Premix	0.5
White table salt	0.5
Lake Shells	5.0
Concentrate (koudijs^TM)	24
Total	100
Calculated nutrient composition (% unless otherwise stated)
Metabolisable energy (Kcal/kg)	2,800
Crude Protein	16
Methionine	0.35
Lysine	0.73
Phosphorous	0.36
Sodium	0.185
Calcium	4.2

Table 2. Socio-demographic characteristics of chicken farmers in Agago and Pader districts

Variable	Category	Number of respondents (N=246)	% of respondents
Gender	Male	108	43.9
	Female	138	56.1
Marital status	Married	197	80.1
	Single	17	6.9
	Divorced	11	4.5
	Widowed	21	8.5
Level of education	No formal education	105	42.7
	Primary	92	37.4
	Secondary	37	15.0
	Tertiary	12	4.8
	Minimum	Maximum	Average
Age (years)	19	89	43.9 ± 14.5
Household size	1	15	6.8 ± 2.7

Table 3. Reasons for crossing local chickens with Kuroiler chickens

Variable	Number of respondents (N=246)	% of respondents
Crossing of chicken
Yes	246	100.0
No	00	00
Reason for crossing
Getting better quality chicks than for local chicken	28	11.4
Improved egg production	129	52.4
Obtain improved breeds	02	0.8
Acquire higher prices than local chicken	22	8.9
Off springs grow faster than local chicken	40	16.3
Off springs are more resistant to diseases than pure Kuroilers	25	10.2

Table 4. Egg production and hatchability of local x Kuroiler chicken crosses under free-range management system

Variable	Breed		SEM	P-value
	Local	Cross
Number of eggs per clutch	12.829^a	20.198^b	0.246	0.000
Hatchability per clutch	69.872^a	84.476 ^b	1.339	0.000

Note: Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different at 5% level of significance; SEM =Standard Error of the Means.

Table 5. Performance of local and crossbred chickens under semi-intensive management system

Variable	Breed		SEM	p-value
	Local	Cross
Number of eggs per clutch	14.226^a	21.719^b	1.217	0.004
Hatchability per clutch	87.594	85.519	4.492	0.668

Note: Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different at 5% level of significance; SEM = Standard Error of the Means.

Data availability statement

All the necessary data for the study will be availed on request.