Productive and Reproductive Performance Diversity of Indigenous Chicken in Eritrea

Background and Objective: Poultry production in Eritrea is predominantly traditional and relies largely on indigenous chickens (ICs). This study evaluated the productive and reproductive variability among IC ecotypes across 16 sub-regions, representing approximately 24% of the country’s administrative areas. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 384 households across 105 villages using structured questionnaires. Egg weight and external egg quality traits were measured using digital balances and calipers. Non-parametric variables related to broodiness management were analyzed using chi-square (χ²) tests in SPSS version 27 and visualized with DATAtab. Parametric traits, including inter-clutch period (ICP), hatchability, survivability and productivity parameters, were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test in JMP Pro 17. The influence of traditional broodiness management practices on ICP was further evaluated using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) implemented in RStudio version 4.3.0 with the glmmTMB package. Farmers’ trait preferences were quantified using the Relative Importance Index (RII), while effective population size (Ne) and inbreeding rate (ΔF) were estimated for mature flocks. Results: Significant variation was observed in broodiness control practices (χ² = 475.36, p< 0.001), with 72% of farmers employing leg-tying, which significantly influenced ICP (F = 10.4058, p<0.001). The longest ICPs were recorded in the BAR (5.92 weeks) and GOG (4.50 weeks) ecotypes. GLMM results indicated that only traditional management practices had a significant effect on ICP (p<0.05). Across ecotypes, mean brooding frequency was 2.54 times per hen per year, with an average of 10.94 eggs set per clutch. Mean hatchability was 81.27% (range: 73.78-87.90%), while chick survivability to eight weeks averaged 51.31% (range: 45.19-61.88%). Productivity parameters showed that cockerels reached mating age at 5.55±0.04 months, while pullets attained first egg laying at 6.29±0.03 months. Hens averaged 3.39±0.045 clutches per year, 12.08±0.14 eggs per clutch and 40.77±0.70 eggs per year, with significant variation among ecotypes (p<0.0001). Mean egg weight was 44.15±0.33 g (range: 35.19-50.89 g; p<0.0001) and the mean shape index was 74.91±0.24% (p = 0.0308). Farmers ranked egg production as the most important trait in hens (RII = 0.81) and plumage colour as the most important trait in cocks (RII = 0.88). The mean effective population size was 4.6, corresponding to an inbreeding rate of 11.4% per generation. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate substantial productive and reproductive diversity among indigenous chicken ecotypes in Eritrea, highlighting opportunities for targeted genetic improvement and sustainable management strategies tailored to specific production objectives.