Feeding Strategies for Selected Ecotypes

Activity 2 tasks 5 of InCIP is on evaluation of indigenous chicken feeding strategies for selected ecotypes. This has been effectively attained to a great level with only a few steps left for its completion.

Jesse Gakige an MSc student at Egerton University has facilitated the attainment of this task. His work is majorly on the effects of targeted phase supplementary feeding on performance of scavenging ecotypes of indigenous chicken in Kenya.

The main objectives of the study being to determine the effect of supplementary feeding at exponential growth phase on mature weight, evaluate effect of feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and ecotypes on weight and gain.

The morphological characteristics of the gut of the ecotypes at different growth phases will be examined. All the data collection has been done and he has embarked on writing a thesis on the same.

At the end of the study period, organoleptic tests will be conducted to examine the effects of treatments on meat quality.

The end result of this study will be to provide a scientific basis for feeding strategies that will exploit the physiological adaptations induced by the requirements for improved growth rate.