The importance of scavenging chicken production in the national economy of developing nations of Africa and its role in improving the nutritional status and income of many smallholder farmers has been recognised by several scholars and policy makers the world around. Scavenging chicken production is a profitable enterprise that contributes to poverty reduction especially among the resource challenged rural communities in most parts of the developing world. It is particularly suitable to smallholder farmers and landless peasants due to low capital investment, high cost efficiency, flexible production systems and low production risks. It has also a symbolic significance within the context of socio-cultural as well as religious functions and economically empowers the rural youth and women. Chicken meat and eggs provide a readily available, high-quality source of proteins, vitamins and micronutrients which are particularly essential for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Moreover, meat and egg from scavenging chicken present one of the most environmentally efficient animal protein production systems. The major challenges of the scavenging chicken production in Africa include high chicken mortality due to predation and regular outbreaks of diseases notably Newcastle disease; imbalanced nutrition due to poor quality and quantity of feed materials; lack of organised marketing system and low performance related genetic potentials. The growing demand for scavenging chicken products in urban areas, identification and promotion of ethno-veterinary medicines, developing locally made and appropriate housing structures, selection among the scavenging chickens, organising farmers to increase bargaining power and shortening the marketing chain are considered as the major opportunities for the improvement of scavenging chicken production in Africa. The significance of indigenous chickens for farmers in African countries combined with many consumers' preference for their eggs and meat suggests that these genetic resources are promising options for food security in the rural communities.

Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken resources is a prerequisite for their rational utilization. Data were collected from 748 randomly selected households (HHs) using structured questionnaires. Visual appraisal was conducted to study morphological traits of indigenous chicken populations. Quantitative data were collected on body weight and shank length from both sexes. The results indicated that 55.0 percent of chicken populations were single combed followed by rose (28.5 percent) and pea (15.2 percent) combs. Yellow was the major shank colour (52.5 percent), followed by white (29.1 percent) and black (14.7 percent). About 46.4, 34.2 and 19.4 percent of chicken populations exhibited red, white and yellow earlobes, respectively. The predominant plumage colour was Kei (36.6 percent) followed by Tikur (20.7 percent), Gebsima (15.3 percent), Netch (12.3 percent), Kokima (8.4 percent), Wosera (3.7 percent), Zigrima (1.7 percent) and Zagolima (1.3 percent). The highest adult body weight was found in Naked-neck chickens (1.7 kg), followed by Kei (1.5 kg), Gebsima (1.45 kg) and Wosera (1.46 kg). The Naked-neck and Wosera males had the longest shank of 115 and 113 mm, respectively. Kei male chickens had large body weight shank length ratio compared with other indigenous chickens. The present study suggests that indigenous chicken populations might possess useful genetic potentials for improved productivity under scavenging feed resource-based production systems. La caractérisation phénotypique des ressources génétiques des poules indigènes est une condition préalable à leur utilisation rationnelle. On a réuni les données à partir de 748 ménages choisis au hasard, en utilisant des questionnaires structurés. On a conduit un examen visuel des populations de poules indigènes pour étudier leurs caractères morphologiques. Les données quantitatives sur le poids corporel et sur la longueur des tarses des mâles et des femelles ont été rassemblées. Les résultats indiquent que 55,0 percent des poules n'ont qu'une seule crête, que pour 28,5 percent la crête est rose et, pour 15,2 percent, elle est en pois. Les tarses sont principalement jaunes (52,5 percent), ensuite blancs (29,1 percent) et noirs (14,7 percent). Environ 46,4, 34,2 et 19,4 percent des populations de poules présentent respectivement des lobes auriculaires rouges, blancs et jaunes. La couleur prédominante du plumage est Kei (rouge, 36,6 percent), Tikur (noir, 20,7 percent), Gebsima (gris, 15,3 percent), Netch (blanc, 12,3 percent), Kokima (8,4 percent), Wosera (3,7 percent), Zigrima (1,7 percent) et Zagolima (1,3 percent). Le poids corporel le plus élevé est celui des poules Naked Neck (1,7 kg), ensuite des Kei (1,5 kg), des Gebsima (1,45 kg) et des Wosera (1,46 kg). Les mâles Naked Neck et Wosera ont les tarses les plus longs, respectivement de 115 et de 113 mm. Les mâles Kei ont une proportion poids corporel/longueur des tarses considérable par rapport aux autres poules indigènes. Cette étude suggère que les poules indigènes possèdent probablement des potentialités génétiques utiles qui permettraient d'accroître la productivité dans le cadre des systèmes de production basés sur les ressources résiduelles. Caracterización fenotípica de los recursos locales aviares es un requisito previo para su utilización racional. Se ha recopilado información de 748 familias seleccionada al azar (HHs, por sus siglas en inglés) por medio de cuestionarios. Se ha llevado a cabo una evaluación visual con objeto de estudiar las características morfológicas de las poblaciones locales de gallinas. Los datos cuantitativos han sido obtenidos a partir del peso corporal y de la longitud del tarso en ambos sexos. Los resultados señalaron que el 55 percent de población de gallinas presenta cresta sencilla, seguida del tipo de rosa (28,5 percent) y guisante (15,2 percent). El colour mayoritario de los tarsos es el amarrillo (52,5 percent), seguido por el blanco (29,1 percent) y el negro (14,7 percent). El 46,4, 34,2 y 19,4 percent de las poblaciones de gallina estudiada presenta orejillas de colour rojo, blanco y amarillo, respectivamente. El colour del plumaje predominante es el Kei (36,6 percent), seguido de Tikur (20,7 percent), Gebsima (15,3 percent), Netch (12,3 percent), Kokima (8,4 percent), Wosera (3,7 percent), Zigrima (1,7 percent) y Zagolima (1,3 percent). El peso más alto en ejemplares adultos lo han presentado los individuos de cuello desnudo (1,7 Kg.), seguido por los Kei (1,5 Kg.), Gebsima (1,45 kg) y Wosera (1,46 kg). Los ejemplares macho de cuello desnudo y los Wosera son los que han presentado tarsos con mayor longitud, de 115 y 113 mm., respectivamente. Los machos de las gallinas Kei presentaban una longitud corporal y del tarso mayor que otras gallinas indígenas. El presente estudio señala que las poblaciones de gallinas autóctonas podrían ser potencialmente útiles genéticamente para mejorar la productividad bajo sistemas de producción basado en alimentación procedente de residuos.

SUMMARY Chicken production is a vital part of livestock production in Ethiopia. Amongst others, it provides economic, cultural and religious benefits. With few intensive chicken farms in and around cities, the major production system is traditional chicken farming that supports more than 85% of producers and sources of major egg and chicken meat supplies. Unimproved local chickens are commonly used which are characterised by low egg production, late-maturing and long brooding behaviour. As a result, various exotic chicken breeds were imported to different parts of the country with an aim to improve egg and meat production. So far, more than 20 exotic chicken breeds were introduced. The crossbreeding strategy had shown a certain extent of positive impact at both smallholder and intensive farming conditions. However, it was criticised for unplanned implementation, uncontrolled and indiscriminate crossbreeding that led to a genetic dilution of local genotype and reduction in performances of improved breeds under extensive systems. Moreover, it has resulted in the erosion of adaptive local genetic resources to various stressful tropical environments. So, many research findings confirm, the unsustainability of crossbreeding attempts under farmer’s management conditions and in search for optional strategies. As result, a selective breeding (Horro chicken breed) and synthetic breed (DZ-white) were developed and showed better performance under on-farm and on-research stations. Recently, improved Horro breeds are at their 11th generation of selection, whereas DZ-white synthetic breed is at the 5th generation. In general, chicken breeding in Ethiopia is known for lacking a sustainable breed improvement plan, limited selective breeding on targeted economic traits, a lack of a working breeding policy and evaluation for genetic gains using records. Therefore, the current mass importation of the exotic breeds is harming local genetic diversity; so it should be minimised and adapted crossbreds could be focused, besides Horro selective breeding and adoption of DZ white synthetic breed.