Productive Performance and Egg Quality Traits of Exotic Chicken Breeds Reared Under Traditional Management System in Misrak Silte District, Central Ethiopia

This study assessed feeding practices, egg production performance, egg quality, and production constraints of exotic chicken breeds (Sasso and Bovans Brown) reared under traditional management systems in Misrak Silte District, Central Ethiopia. Purposive and random sampling was used to select study kebeles and 316 households. Data were collected on household characteristics, husbandry practices, egg production performance, and egg quality traits, and 160 eggs were sampled for quality evaluation. Results showed that 87.7% of respondents provided supplementary feed, mainly household food leftovers (70.8%) and grain leftovers (17.5%). Most respondents (60.76%) housed chickens only at night. The average age at first lay (days) for Sasso chickens in the midland and lowland was 170.35 ± 14.54 and 149.06 ± 8.21, respectively, while Bovans Brown recorded 180.69 ± 12.17 and 168.22 ± 8.73. Annual egg production (eggs/hen/year) was higher in the midland than the lowland for both breeds ( p < 0.05), with Sasso producing 167.9 ± 8.48 and 149.6 ± 6.92 eggs and Bovans Brown producing 145.2 ± 4.04 and 136.6 ± 4.73 eggs, respectively. Agroecology significantly affected ( p < 0.05) both external and internal egg quality traits, and higher values for most quality parameters were recorded in the midland agroecology than in the lowland. Disease, feed shortage, predator attacks, and lack of capital were the major constraints in both agroecologies. In conclusion, productive performance and egg quality traits of exotic chickens under traditional management were significantly influenced by breed and agroecology, with Sasso chickens and the midland agroecology showing superior performance.