Agroecology Is Affecting Village Chicken Producers' Breeding Objective in Ethiopia

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Animal Science
• Rural Sociology

Background:

• Village chickens are crucial for food security and income in Ethiopia.
• Understanding producer preferences is key for effective breeding programs.
• Agroecological and socioeconomic factors influence trait selection in village chickens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess factors determining village chicken producers' trait preferences across Ethiopian agroecologies.
• To evaluate the impact of agroecological differences, socioeconomic, and institutional factors on these preferences.
• To estimate inbreeding coefficients in different agroecological zones.

Main Methods:

• Individual interviews with 380 village chicken producers.
• Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses.
• Multivariate regression modeling to assess influencing factors.
• Estimation of inbreeding coefficients.

Main Results:

• Egg and meat production for consumption and income were primary production functions.
• Plumage color (red preferred) and weight were key traits for males and females, respectively.
• Agroecology, livestock, and land holding significantly affected economic and reproductive trait preferences.
• Distance to market influenced adaptive trait preferences.
• Inbreeding coefficients varied significantly across agroecologies (low: 0.25, mid: 0.23, highland: 0.06).

Conclusions:

• Agroecological differences significantly impact village chicken breeding objectives in Ethiopia.
• Higher inbreeding observed in low and mid-altitude areas necessitates targeted interventions.
• Future breed improvement programs must integrate producer socioeconomic characteristics and agroecological context.