Papers by Christopher Kanyama
Poultry, Jun 3, 2024
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Research Square (Research Square), Nov 13, 2023
Indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) (IC) are an essential component of agriculture among 80% ... more Indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) (IC) are an essential component of agriculture among 80% of small-scale farmers (SSF) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and are essential for rural livelihoods. However, in the past decade, a signi cant loss of IC animal genetic resources (AnGR) has been reported, resulting from poultry diseases, imported exotic breeds, and poor market access among others. If the losses are not mitigated, rural communities may be highly impacted. To investigate the status of IC-AnGR and assess the major challenges affecting the IC sector, We surveyed 358 households in Eastern, Central, and Southern livelihood zones. Results showed that over 77% of farmers reared the Zambi IC breed, 18-44% reported the introduction of exotic breeds in the past decade, with most households sourcing breeding stock from fellow farmers and family and friends. Further, 40-58% of farmers considered the criterion of number of eggs laid, resistance to diseases, fast growth, and larger body size when adopting chicken breeds. Generally, farmers were concerned about the loss of IC breeds and agreed that some chicken breeds have been lost in the past decade with some attributing the loss to poultry diseases. Deliberate policies to promote sustainable use and conservation of IC are critical in Zambia. Guinea fowl patterned black or brown feathers, 10-14 eggs/clutch, high weight, moderate disease resistance, broody, and moderate hatchability. Frizzled (Mapepe-Matete or 'Wetlook' Shed feathers in the hot season, 6-12 eggs per clutch, high weight, low disease resistance, poor brooding, and poor hatchability. Feather-shanked (Matalausi) Appears to wear a pair of trousers, eggs clutch sizes vary, medium weight, low disease resistance, fairly broody, and moderate hatchability. Zambi short-legged Lay brown eggs with varying clutch sizes, medium weight, high disease resistance, moderately broody, and moderate hatchability. Black Australorps Black feathers, weigh over 2 kg, have 250 eggs per year, are hardy in the disease environment, have poor brooding, and eggs need incubation to hatch. Kruoillers Are spotted with red feathers, 150 eggs per year, 2.5-3 kg weight, and hardy in diseased environments, poor brooding, and eggs need incubation to hatch. Sasso Reddish feathers lay 240 eggs per year, weigh 3.6-4.8 kg, hardy in a diseased environment, and poor brooding and incubation are required for hatching.
F1000Research
This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for conservation and use of village or... more This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for conservation and use of village or indigenous chickens (IC) ( Gallus domesticus) in Zambia with lessons in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Small scale farmers (SSF) have kept IC for hundreds of years to meet their households’ nutritional needs, incomes, social-cultural and religious uses. The commitment exhibited by SSF to keeping indigenous animals has made them the major custodians of essential animal genetic resources in most low-income regions. Between 1991 and 2012, private breeders invested over US$95 million in Zambia’s commercial poultry sector resulting in over 100% increase in the annual production of day-old chicks to 65 million. However, high production costs and low market access hindered the participation of rural farmers hence their continued dependence on IC breeds. The future of IC genetic resources is threatened due to their rapid erosion. In the 2015 biodiversity status report, the Food and Agriculture Orga...
F1000Research
This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for the utilization and conservation o... more This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for the utilization and conservation of indigenous chickens (IC) (Gallus domesticus) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), drawing lessons from selected low-income countries. Small-scale farmers (SSF) have kept IC for hundreds of years to meet their households' nutritional needs, incomes, and social-cultural and religious uses. The commitment exhibited by SSF to keeping IC has made them the significant custodians of essential animal genetic resources AnGR in most low-income countries. Between 1991 and 2012, Zambia's private breeders invested over US$95 million in the commercial poultry sector, resulting in over a 100% increase in the annual production of day-old chicks to 65 million. However, high production costs and low market access hindered rural farmers' full participation, hence their continued dependence on IC breeds. The erosion of AnGR poses the biggest threat to IC in SSA. The Food and Agriculture Organisation, ...
F1000Research, 2022
This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for conservation and use of village or... more This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for conservation and use of village or indigenous chickens (IC) (Gallus domesticus) in Zambia and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Small scale farmers (SSF) have kept IC for hundreds of years to meet their households’ nutritional needs, incomes, social-cultural and religious uses among others. The commitment exhibited by SSF in keeping IC has made them the major custodians of essential animal genetic resources in low-income regions. Between 1991 and 2012, private breeders invested over US$95 million in Zambia’s commercial poultry sector resulting in over 100% increase in annual production of day-old chicks to 65 million. However, high production cost and low market access hindered the participation of SSF hence their continued dependence on IC. Unfortunately, the future of IC genetic resources is threatened due to the rapid loss and erosion of IC breeds. In the 2015 biodiversity status report, the Food and Agriculture Orga...
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Papers by Christopher Kanyama