Systems of Family Poultry in Rural Sudan Case Study: Eastern Nile Province

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the different systems of family poultry adopted in rural Sudan, with special reference to the Eastern Nile Province. In addition it aims at reflecting to what extent family poultry can contributes to the household nutritional status and income. The main concept of this study is that family poultry form the basis for increasing food production and income in rural communities. The most dominant systems are the extensive ones that are based on the local indigenous breeds and on scavenging feeding system. This research was carried out on the Eastern Nile Province. Six villages were selected, namely; Aseilat Elgueez, Alhasanab, Alhawila, Alkambo, Wad Bakheit, and Aldallatia. The data were collected through different tools. The questionnaire was considered to be the main measuring instrument. Two hundred and fifty two households were selected through systematic sampling and interviewed. Face- to- face method was used, where an immediate feed- back was received. The obtained data were subjected to analysis through the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The final results were tabulated in term of frequencies and percentages. In addition to histogramms and piediagramms . On the other hand, eighteen chickens were slaughtered for the purpose of measuring the gizzard thickness and weight.Coupled by the physical examination and chemical analysis for the crop content. The study revealed that the rural households in the six villages under study have kept poultry for many years basically on scavenging system of management. Domestic fowls are the most dominant type of poultry in VIII comparison to other type of avian species. Thus the low-input indigenous Free-range chicken production is very popular amongst resource limited rural communities. Although family is carried out with minimal agricultural, veterinary, extension, training, and marketing support. But, still it positively contributes in the improvement of the households nutritional status and income. Households make use of the indigenous poultry knowledge acquired over a long period of time. Furthermore, respondents share information with neighbors. All respondents indicated that they require capacity building training programs in different issues concerning poultry husbandry practices. Moreover, diseases and poor health are considered one of the most constraints for increasing poultry production. The chemical analysis of the crop content reflected low level of the protein. Thus the availability of protein was a constraint on production. Protein rich materials were of minor proportion in the scavenging diet. Furthermore, the analysis showed that, there is a positive correlation between the gizzard weight and thickness. The thick wall of the gizzard is likely a muscular adaptation to increase grinding activity. The study concluded that, improvement in housing, feeding, and diseases control, coupled by institutional support in the dissemination of information, capacity building training programs in poultry husbandry practices, veterinary, extension, and financial services, will ultimately enhance better production.