Tanzania has been working to improve local chicken genetics through the African Chicken Genetic Gains program. Key activities include: 1) Conducting a baseline survey of 3,200 households to understand current flock sizes and perceptions. 2) Testing improved chicken breeds like Sasso and Kuroiler on research stations and farms. Preliminary results show the improved breeds have higher weights and egg production. 3) Building capacity through trainings on data collection and hatchery management. 4) Partnering with hatcheries, feed suppliers, and others to help disseminate chickens and inputs. 5) Facing some challenges around timely access to fertile eggs and farmers' ability to afford supplements. Future plans include importing more breeds

1. African Chicken Genetic Gains
Tanzania Achievements Todate
Said Mbaga (Sokoine University of Agriculture)
Third ACGG Program Management Team Meeting, Abuja, Nigeria, 2 December 2016

2. OUTLINE
• Baseline survey
• On station testing & On farm testing
• Capacity building
• IP & Partnership
• Awareness and creation of business opportunities
• Some challenges
• Future plan

3. Introduction
5 sub-national zones
20 districts
80 villages
3,200 households
83% are rural poor women

4. Project zones
S. humid
S.
highlands
E. sub-humid
C. Semi
arid
Lake
zone

5. Test Strains
1. Sasso
2. Kuroiler
3. Koekoek
4. Black Australorp
5. Local strains

6. Highlights on baseline results
Data analyzed based on 1160 households
80% of households were male headed and 20% female headed
Mean duration of keeping chicken 8 years (range 4-10 years)
Main purpose of keeping chickens were meat consumption (38%) and sale of
live birds (30%).
> 90% provide some form of feed supplementations

7. Flock composition and size
• Mean Flock size 27Hens &
Growing
pullets
42%
Chicks
40%
Cocks &
growing
males
18%

8. Perceptions of farmers on qualities/attributes of good
chickens
Cocks Hens
Larger body size Larger body size
Tolerance to diseases Lay more eggs
Physical appearance Good mothering ability

9. Egg importation and chick distribution
Kuroiler: Imported 27,360 fertile eggs
from Uganda
Egg hatched: Private partners
Chick distribution
Sasso: 32,000
Kuroiler: 12,000

10. On Station Results: Body weights (g) at 16 weeks.
Breed Body weight (kg)
Male Females
Kuroiler 3.1 2.3
Sasso 3.2 2.8

11. On Farm preliminary results
. Indicator EZ LZ S/HZ CZ SZ
Survival / hh 22 18 23 23 19
Weight –males (kg) 4.5 2.3 4.3 4.4 3.5
Weight –females (kg) 3.1 1.8 3.0 3.2 2.5
Age at 1st egg (w) 18-20 21 18-20 18- 20 20
First egg weight (g) 55 46 44 37- 65 49

12. On – Farm testing output
Birds are bigger vs. local
 Sale of Cocks after 20
weeks – 9 US$ -15 US$ per
bird

13. On – Farm testing output
Availability of eggs for household
consumption and sale
In general the Project is well
accepted by farmers
Ms. Pelis John (Central zone) Preparing
eggs for sale

14. Capacity building
• ODK - 80 enumerators (49%:F 51% M)
• Course on Breeding and data analysis: 6 Research officers
• Effective facilitations: 6 Zonal coordinators
• Hatchery management- 6 hatchery operators (facilitated by
US-Grain Council)
• Facilitated 6 small hatchery to attain registration certificate
• Graduate recruitment : 2 MSc and 2 PhD ( 3 PhD to be
recruited early next year)

15. Core partners
• .
ACGG-TZ
Hatcheries
(10)
Brooders
(10)
Transporters
Input suppliers
(2)
Extension-
LGA
Farmers

16. IP & Business opportunities
Held three National Innovation platform meetings
Challenges and opportunities in the poultry VC were identified
Successes
Supply DOC & Feeds to brooders farmers and ACGG
6 Hatcheries motivated to expand business
9 Up- Scaled brooding activities - demand pull

17. IP & Business opportunities …..
22 Agrovet dealers Linked with farmers
Policy gaps identified- Draft document produced and circulated
Buy-in by LGA to scale-up poultry activities

18. Visibility of ACGG-TZ
• Poultry Expo and
Egg week 3 to 9
October 2016
• Participation in
National Agricultural
shows
• Interviews e.g. Radio
Maria

19. Some challenges
Timely acquisition of fertile eggs;
Black Australorp: Malawi
Koekeoek: Debrezeit- Ethiopia
Affordability/availability of supplement by some farmers
How to maintain vibrant IPs:
Close follow-ups, improve communication
FUTURE; markets !!!!!!!!

20. Next step
• Importation of Black Astralorp fertile eggs from Malawi:
Dec 2016- Jan 2017
• Importation of Koekoek Fertile eggs from Ethiopia: Dec 16-
Feb 2017
• Community IPs - Dec 2016-Feb 2017
• Develop tools for addressing gender related issues : Jan-
July 2017-
• On station and on farm Data collection ( on going)

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION