<p>VILLAGE CHICKEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF BURKINA FASO S.R. Kondombo, R.P. Kwakkel, M.W.A. Verstegen, M. Slingerland. Dept. of Animal Science, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; A.J. Nianogo. Institut de L’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, Ougadougou, Burkina Faso. </p><p>Abstract A survey on village chicken production in two farming systems (the ‘crop/livestock’ and the ‘livestock’ system) has been carried out in the central Region of Burkina Faso. The study methodology was a Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), carried out by a multidisciplinary team and a follow-up in monitoring critical factors, in order to describe village chicken production in both farming systems. In both farming systems, chicken production was characterised by a free-range system with low inputs and low out puts. Housing of birds was very poor in the ‘livestock’ system compared to the ‘crop/livestock’ system. High mortality and low hatching rates seemed to be affected by this poor housing situation. The study revealed a certain degree of inefficiency of the system. Investigations are needed to identify and quantify the factors that are responsible for this inefficiency in order to improve the system of village chicken production on the longer term. </p><p>Keywords: free range, system approach, village chicken</p><p>Introduction About 90% of the active population in Burkina Faso (West Africa) are involved in agriculture. In livestock, ruminants are pre-dominant, followed by poultry. Village chickens appear to be a regular source of income for the rural farmers, which constitute 85% o the inhabitants of the country. Further, they play a major role in social relationships (like gifts and sacrifices) and provide cash by exportation. Before 1995, poultry production development programmes were lacking, with the result that parameters of productivity are not yet sufficiently known (CNRST, 1995) and no improvement of the village chicken system did occur so far. In recent years, however, research policies recommended to investigate this type of production. The current study fits within the framework of the recommendations and aims to describe the village chicken production system with regard to two farming systems.</p><p>Materials and Methods The site of this study was the village of Yambassé in the central Region of Burkina Faso. The village has 1,540 inhabitants and two farming systems were observed, i.e., the ‘crop/livestock’ and the ‘livestock’ farming systems. The study was conducted by use of a Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), which is an assessment, carried out by a multidisplinary team during 3 days. The RRA was focused on village chicken production in the two farming systems. The tools used were literature review and semi-structured interviews with groups of men, women, and adolescents in wash farming system. In the ‘crop/livestock’ system, crop production is the main activity, along with some livestock farming (mainly small ruminants and poultry). Daily management of poultry is done by men. On the contrary, the ‘livestock’ farming system is characterised by cattle breeding, and poultry management is done by women. On the basis of this RRA, a qualitative description of the village chicken production system was assessed. Main components of the system were flock size, egg production, sales, gifts, mortality due to diseases, predators, bad weather and unknown causes. During two months from July to September 1999, these components were monitored fortnightly. </p><p>Results and Discussion Four types of village chickens can be distinguished among all households that were studied, mainly differing in size of the bird (big: ‘Noa-kondé, medium: ‘Noa-kuiguiga’, dwarf: ‘Noa-rigré’) or feathering (naked-neck: ‘Noa-ibrongo’). It is difficult to consider them as breeds as no appropriate selection programmes are carried out and random mating is regular practice (IEMVT, 1987; Guèye, 1998). The chickens find the main part of their daily ration by scavenging in a free-range system as described by IEMVT (1987), Sonaiya (1990) and Guèye (1998). Irregular supplementation with cereals or termites, done by the farmer, is mainly directed towards young chickens. No preventative hygienic measures are taken, except by some farmers. In exceptional cases, vaccination against Newcastle Disease is done. In general, farmers use the bark of some local trees (Kaya senegalensis and Butyrospermum parkii) as traditional drugs for the treatment of diarrhoea and pepper had been used against Newcastle Disease. The housing of the village chicken is different in the two farming systems. In the ‘crop/livestock’ system, birds are housed in a clay hut with a roof of straw, and in the ‘livestock’ farming system the entire hut is made of straw. This may explain the significant differences (P0.05) between the two farming systems for hatching rate and chicken mortality. (Table 1). The output of the system constitutes of 10% market sales, 5% of gifts, 1% of sacrifices and 84% of all output is due to losses as a result of diseases, predators, bad weather, and some unknown reasons. </p><p>Farming Systems Parameters Crop/Livestock Livestock SE</p><p>Flock size 34.3 31.3 3 Number of 11.7 12.2 0.2 eggs/clutch Hatching rate (%) 70a 46b 0.6 Mortality rate of 24.2a 52.3b 8.6 young chicks (%) Overall mortality 8.7 8.9 1.5 rate (%) Mean values in the same row with different superscripts are significantly different at p 0.05</p><p>From this study it can be concluded that current production system of village chickens is inefficient. There is a need to quantify the impact of all factors that are responsible for the inefficiency of the system in order to improve village chicken production on the longer term. References CNRST., 1995. Plan Stratégique de la recherche scientifique. Recherche agricole. Production animale. Burkina Faso. P.41. IEMVT., 1987. Manual of poultry production I the tropics. CAB International, Wallingford UK, p.119. Guèye, E.H.F., 1998. Village egg and fowl meat production in Africa. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 54: 73-86. Sonaiya, E.B., 1990. The context and prospects for the development of small-holder rural poultry production in Africa. Proceedings of the CTA Seminar, vol. 1: Smallholder Rural Poultry Production, Thessaloniki, Greece: 35-52. </p>