Typology of local poultry breeding of Gallus gallus species in family poultry in Benin

ABSTRACT The characterization of breeding systems enables to identify the types of breeding in order to elaborate development activities. The aim of this study was to characterize the types of local chicken breedings of Benin. Thus, 216 local chicken breeders of the twelve departments of Benin were interviewed. Three Types of breeding were identified. The Type 1 corresponds to livestock breeders who are not provided with schooling and includes farmers, artisans and housewives. They are distributed in almost all departments of Benin and constitute 77.78% of the survey population. The average herd size is 33 chickens and veterinary treatments or health follow-up are not practiced. In Type 2, the farmers are not provided with schooling; only a few have the primary or secondary standards. These farmers are more concentrated in Alibori, Atacora and Donga. This type of breeding regroups mostly housewives who do a food crops. The average herd size is 27 chickens and the sick birds are not usually treated. The sale of animals is not primordial. Farmers in this group represent 16.68% of the sampled population. Finally, in the Type 3, breeders have a high school standard and do agriculture as dominant activity. They represent 5.5% of the sampled population and practice their activities in north Benin. The herds are of large scale (92 heads) and the animals profit from a good medicare by administration of vitamin complex, antibiotics, vaccines and deworming based on veterinary requirements. Improving local chicken breeding must take into account the particularity of each breeding type.