Village chicken production was characterized using retrospective and crosssectional methods, where 280 households rearing local chickens in Halaba district of southern Ethiopia were used for data collection. The study revealed that the average flock size was 8.5 chickens (95% CI=7.98-9.08). The average number of chickens added to a flock annually was 28.3 birds (95% CI=27.76-28.86) while 22.9 birds (95% CI=22.36-23.53) were leaving the flock. The majority of the households (77.7%) constructed a wooden perch for night resting of their chickens inside the main house. Scavenging was the major avenue of feeding chickens. Most of the respondents (83.6%) practiced selection in their chicken flocks for females (68.4%) and both sexes (31.6%). The average number of eggs laid by local hen was 13.3 eggs/hen/clutch (95% CI=12.81-13.85) and the mean annual egg production was 50.8 eggs per year with an average clutching frequency of 3.8 clutches (95% CI = 3.69-3.92). The average clutch length was 26 days (95% CI = 24.92-27.08). While the age at first lay of village chickens was 6.53 months (95% CI = 6.45-6.61), the average weight at first lay was 0.91 kg (95% CI = 0.87-0.96). The mean egg weight for the village chickens was 39.4 g (95% CI = 38.79-39.91). The average hatchability of eggs in this study was 83.7 % (95% CI = 81.73-85.72). The survival rate of chicks to 6 months of age was 52.3% (95% CI = 51.09-53.45). It was concluded that village chicken production was characterized by low input and output system, and scavenging was the dominant form of feeding of village chicken.

Honey is a food rich in nutrients essential for human life and its composition as well as quality varies greatly. The study was conducted in Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia to determine the physicochemical properties of honey. A total of 20 honey samples were collected from farm gates and local markets. Honey quality parameters like moisture content, sugars (fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose), pH, free acidity, HMF and ash (mineral) contents were tested according to the procedures described by International Honey Commission (IHC) (2009). The overall mean values of moisture, pH, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (HMF), total ash, electrical conductivity, fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose of the analyzed honey samples were 19.27±1.99%, 3.80±0.24, 34.04±14.21meq/kg, 13.09±4.47mg/kg, 0.23±0.09%, 0.55±0.16mS/cm, 39.95±4.09%, 33.75±5.71%, 0.99±0.38% and 2.08±1.73%, respectively. Moisture content was significantly (p<0.05) affected by both agroecology and hive type for honey samples from farm gates. Honey samples from local markets had significantly (p<0.001) higher moisture, free acidity and sucrose content than honey samples obtained from households in three agroecologies. The study indicated that all honey samples obtained from farm gates and a majority of samples collected from local markets in the study area are of good quality and meet the national and international standard limits. However, some honey samples collected from local markets had a higher level of sucrose than recommended limit suggesting adulteration of honey.

Background Beekeeping is an integral component of animal husbandry and it has highly untapped potential for generating household income for rural livelihood. The study was conducted to assess beekeeping practices, honey production trends, constraints and opportunities of beekeeping in Arba Minch Zuria District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The district was selected purposively based on its beekeeping potential and stratified into three agro-ecological zones. Seven representative Kebeles from the District were selected proportional to their agro-ecological variations. A total of 156 beekeepers were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Cross-sectional type of study was conducted to generate data through formal survey. The quantitative and qualitative data were summarized and analysed using one way ANOVA and cross tabulations, respectively. Result Mixed crop-livestock farming system was primary means of livelihood in the study area. The result revealed that most (96.8%) of the beekeepers practiced traditional beekeeping system. The average honeybee stocks were about 4.8 ± 1.78 and 5.2 ± 6.98 colonies per household. The average honey yield was 5.8 ± 0.09 kg and 20.1 ± 0.31 kg per year for traditional and modern beehives, respectively. Conclusion There was a decreasing trend of total colony number and honey yield over the last five years (2014–2018). Shortage of bee forage during dearth periods, absconding and honeybee enemies were the most important constraints of beekeeping in the study area, while the availability of huge number of honeybee colonies, existence of ample bee forages and the existence of tourist attraction sites in the study area provides a good market opportunity to sell the honey with a premium price.

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