A team of Nigerian experts under the auspices of African Chicken Genetic Gains in Nigeria has announced a breakthrough in poultry production in Nigeria following the development of disease-resistant breed of chicken with higher egg output. Th e principal consultant, ACGG-NG and lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Funso Sonaiya, said this at a press briefi ng in Lagos on Saturday.
ACCG is an Africa-wide collaboration led by the International Livestock Research Institute that seeks to increase access of poor smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to highproducing, locally adapted and appropriate chicken strains. Sonaiya said after employing the science’s ‘6 genetics’ over a twoyear period, the team developed a new breed of chicken that has a high yield of egg production than the local breed. He said: “Th e six genetics produces up to about 200 eggs annually while the local breed produces less than 65 annually. Th e adult size for a local breed which is what is commonly available in many homes/poultry farms is 1kg at 20 weeks while team lists the identifi ed genetic breeds to include ShikaBrown from Ahmadu Bello University, ABU; Fulani, from Obafemi University, Ile-Ife, Osun state; Alpha, from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun state; Sasso breed from Paris, France and Kuroiler breed from Keg farm in India.”
Th e ACCG-NG team said the poultry birds are currently 52 weeks old, adding that the institute had established two systems – On-station and Onfarm – to check their day-to-day growth, life span and survival trend. Th e new breed of chicken weighs six genetics weighs 3kg at 20 weeks.”
Th e ACCG-NG team also announced that the foundation is using science of genetics to develop tropically-adapted breeds that could lay between 150 and 200 eggs annually and sustain food productivity in the country. “We are particular about genetic chickens because we are convinced beyond doubt that they posses attribute that make them suitable for performance both under stationed or scavenging situations. Th ey are chickens that are driven by science, technology, innovation and industry.”
Sonaiya said tests were being carried out in the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Fol-Hope Farms, Ibadan, as well as in fi ve zones – Kwara, Rivers, Imo, Nasarawa and Kebbi states – involving 2, 500 farmers and ‘6 genetics’ chromosome. Speaking at the event, Sam Mbaka, of PICO-EA, Kenya, said the ACGG equally facilitated the delivery of vaccination to smallholder chicken farmers and established a data management system for onfarm and on-station data collection among many other activities. According to him, the adoption of the ACGG project to transform smallholder chicken production in Nigeria has a multiplier eff ect in empowering rural women farmers.
