Analysis of the local chicken farming system in the Poro region (Northern Ivory Coast)

Traditional Ivorian poultry farming is marginalized in favor of modern poultry farming. A lack of understanding of it is undoubtedly one of the reasons. To understand the local chicken production system, a study was conducted in the Poro region. During this study, a survey was carried out using a questionnaire to highlight the production systems. The results showed that raising local chickens is practiced primarily by men (69.91%), who are illiterate (54.31%) and between 36 and 50 years old (45.63%). These farmers were also agricultural workers (73.28%), and 75.24% were married. The majority were animists (55.58%), and the main motivation for choosing this type of farming was the hardiness of local chickens (54.86%). The most common farming system was total free-ranging (85.13%) and the farming equipment was essentially salvaged equipment (59.71%). Most farmers purchased their initial flocks at the market (71.17%) to begin raising their birds. These flocks primarily housed young animals, with 42.17% of the flocks being juveniles and 33.70% being chicks. Regarding the causes of mortality, diseases (42.90%) and predators (49.44%) were the main factors. The majority (60.27%) cited the lack of veterinary services to support the sector. A broader and more comprehensive study of traditional poultry farming will identify its strengths and weaknesses, providing the ultimate avenue for improvement in this promising sector.