The study was done to characterize the production performance of exotic/Fayoumi chicken/under intensive management condition in semi-arid Ethiopia. Feed consumption, age at 40% egg laying, egg production, mortality rate, hatchability, external and internal their egg quality parameters used as evaluation parameters. Mean feed consumption of starter, grower and layer Fayoumi chicken under intensive management condition in Adami Tulu research center is 48.9±5.5, 71.4±5.4 and 113.5±8.1, respectively. Fayoumi chickens attain sexual maturity at 150 days and produced 159.9± 10.7 eggs in a year. Hatchability and mortality rate is 63.5 and 7.2%, respectively. Egg weight (g), egg length (mm), egg width (mm), shell thickness (mm) and shell weight in percent of egg weight of Fayoumi chicken`s egg was 44.3±4.51, 50.77±2.6, 39.3±1.41, 0.35±0.04 and 13.3, respectively. Yolk color, yolk weight in percent of egg weight, albumin weight in percent of egg weight and egg shape index of Fayoumi chicken is 1.59±0.76, 32.3%, 54.5% and 77.7±3.9, respectively. The result of the present study showed that Fayoumi chicken well adapted to semi-arid Ethiopia and their production performance is better than the indigenous village chicken means it is a good choice for egg producer who can regularly supply supplementary feed. Fayoumi chicken were active can easily escape predators and preferred perch after onset egg lay. Poultry breeder can also use the breed for the production of commercial breed by crossing with others in semi-arid Ethiopia.

Sheep fattening with Molasses-urea feed block (MUB) was undertaken in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District at Aneno and Arba villages for 87 days during both dry (from 22 March to 17 June) and during wet season (from 19 August to 10 November, 2009). A study was conducted to determine the performance and profitability obtained from MUB supplemented grazing sheep. Molasses, urea, wheat bran, finely ground haricot bean haulm, salt, and bindinder (cement and termite mould) were used as ingredients to produce three different MUBs; Treatment two (T2), Treatment three (T3) and Treatment four (T4) with 17.72, 20.96 and 24.6% CP, respectively. Six sheep were randomly allotted to each of T1, T2, T3 and T4 during both dry and wet seasons at each village. Sheep in T4 had higher overall average daily weight gain (ADWG) (74.8 ± 11.13 g/head/day followed by T2, T3 and T1 (72.88 ± 9.27, 58.5 ± 12.98 and 33.67 ± 3.03) g/head/day, respectively. Over all total body weight gain (TBWG) of T4 was higher (6.26 ± 0.53) kg, followed by T2, T3 and T1 (6.13 ± 0.46, 4.92 ± 0.64 and 2.83 ± 0.39) kg, respectively. Differences (P<0.05) between control (T1) and T4; between T3 and T4, between T1 and T2, between T3 and T2 in overall ADWG and TBWG were significant (P<0.05) but differences between T1 and T3, between T2 and T4; not significant (P>0.05). ADWG (67.96 ± 10.31) g/head/day and TBWG (5.91 ± 0.87) kg of sheep at Aneno village was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the ADWG (51.79 ± 9.41) g/head /day and TBWG (4.51 ± 0.75) kg of sheep at Arba village. Significant difference (P<0.05) in ADWG and TBWG was observed between seasons with the higher gain during wet season (67.33 ± 11.43) g/head/day growth rate and 5.86 ± 0.43 kg total weight gain as compared to dry season (52.07 ± 8.3) g/head/day growth rate and 4.53 ± 0.39 kg total weight gain. The interaction of season by village was not significantly influenced both ADWG and TBWG of sheep. Marginal rate of return of T2 is higher (123.46) followed by T3.77.16) and T4 (65.64). From the biological and economic data analysis, we can conclude and recommend that MUB with 17.72% CP could be used as supplement for sheep fattening in mid rift valley of Ethiopia.

The study was conducted in East Shoa zone in Dugda district from April 2017 to June 2018 to evaluate the production performance of koekoek chickens under farmers` management conditions. A total of 193 female and 32 male three months age grower koekoek chicken were used for the study. Three months grower koekoek chickens were distributed to five farmers research extension groups (FREGs) in Dugda districts of the mid rift valley of Ethiopia. Average age at sexual maturity, annual egg production and mortality of koekoek chicken obtained under farmers management condition were 22±1.2 weeks, 164±8.4 eggs/hen/year and 31% respectively. Weight of chicken at first egg laying and weight of cockerel at 22 weeks of age were 1.6±0.4 and 2.4 ±0.35 kg respectively. The mean value measurements obtained on egg weight in gram(g), shell thickness in millimeter (mm), yolk color, albumin weight in gram (g) and yolk weight in gram(g) were 44.28±2.96, 0.62 ±0.16, 6.7±0.5, 27.28±3.4 and 12.8±1.4 respectively. In the study area the frequent existence of Newcastle disease and external parasite was found to be the bottle neck for exotic poultry production. In addition lack of adequate package delivery and supply system are among the observed problems in the study area. We can conclude that poultry production in the study area is economically feasible along with veterinary service delivery and input supply like supplementary feed.

A study was conducted to evaluate the production performance of koekoek chickens at Adami Tulu Research Center. Feed consumption, age at point of laying, annual egg production, mortality, and egg quality parameters were used as evaluation parameters. Mean feed consumption of starter, grower and layer of koekoek chickens at Adami Tulu Research Center was 56.4±4.6, 84.3±6.3 and 124±8.6 g/day, respectively. Koekoek chickens attain sexual maturity at 5 months and produce 213± 12.4 eggs per year. Their hatchability was 60% and mortality rate was 4% at Adami Tulu Research center. Their egg weight in gram (g) was 51.17±3.2. The egg yolk color, yolk weight in gram (g), albumin weight in gram (g) were 5.08±0.91, 14.96±1.6 and 31.2±2.7, respectively. The current study revealed that koekoek chickens adapt well to semi-arid agro-ecology of Ethiopia. Koekoek chickens are fast growers and good layers. So day-old chicken producers and distributors in semi-arid area can consider them as candidate breeds in their production. These dual purpose breeds need good managements like quality feed provision, good sanitation and vaccine administration. Therefore livestock extensions and farmers who have interest in introducing these breeds into their farm should have to provide necessary management practices to fully utilize their production potential.