Cost of inputs influencing indigenous chicken egg production in Tharaka Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

Poultry farming contributes to Kenya’s food and economic security. It provides a living for 70% of Kenyans by providing meat, eggs, and income. Indigenous chicken (IC) dominates poultry production in Kenya and is primarily kept in rural areas due to low economic rearing costs. Yet, IC’s egg production is low, laying 45 eggs/hen/year compared to its potential of 165 eggs/hen/year. Low and poor-quality feeds and disease management practices have been associated with low egg production. This study used a cross-sectional survey to establish the impact of the cost of inputs on IC egg production in Tharaka Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from a clustered simple random sample of 246 IC farmers from Gatunga, Mukothima, Nkondi, Chiakariga, and Marimanti wards of Tharaka Sub-County. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics using STATA software version 17. Descriptive statistics were means, standard deviations, and proportions. A Stochastic Frontier production model was fitted to predict the influence of the cost of inputs on IC’s clutch sizes. The results showed that higher treatment expenditure (β = 0.0003, t = 29.01, p < .001) and commercial feeds (β = 0.005, t = 46.80, p < 0.01) were associated with higher clutch at a 1% significance level. IC produced an average clutch size of 18.6 with commercial feeds compared to 16.6 with local feeds. Poultry diseases adversely influence chickens’ physiological processes, such as impaired growth and feed utilisation decreasing egg production. Commercial feeds have nutrients such as protein, for egg yolk and albumen formation, calcium, and phosphorus essential for eggshell formation. Contrarily, local feeds may not have the balanced nutrients. Therefore, low cost of commercial feeds and disease treatment decreases the cost of egg production. Thus, IC farmers should use commercial feeds to increase egg production. Besides, the county should support IC farmers to control diseases through financing to improve egg production.