Title: Study on scenario of backyard chicken rearing system with productive performances and socio-economic condition of Sujanagar, Santhia & Bera Thana of Pabna District of Bangladesh.

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate backyard chicken production systems in three regions (Bera, Santhia and Sujanagar Thana of Pabna district.) of Bangladesh.150 households were selected, where 50 households from each thana of Pabna district of which 15 villages from three thana of which 5 village of each thana and 10 households per village were taken as selected area. Feeding systems and availability of feed for raising chicken, production performance of scavenging chicken and profitability of raising chicken & socio-economic condition were evaluated. Information was collected from the farmers through a questionnaire. The study revealed that the highest number of chicken per farm was found with large farmers (25) while the lowest was found with landless farmers (5). Simple random sampling technique was followed to collect data.The highest number of chicken was available at the farm household during April-June (summer) and that was the lowest during July-September. Highest number (85) of eggs per bird was found during January-March while the lowest (45) was during July-September. The highest number of chicken eggs ( 36.1 percent) were consumed by the large farmers, while the lowest number of chicken eggs (13.7 percent) were consumed by the landless farmers. The landless farmers hatched highest percentage of chicken eggs (37.2) than other farm categories. These results demonstrated that the landless group used maximum eggs for production. 55% of the farmers of Sujanagar used mixed feed compound, but in Bera only 40% of farmers fed mixed feed to their chicken & the rest was either paddy or wheat alone or a mixture of both. The hatchability rate was 89% in Sujanagar, Santhia was 88.5% but in Bera it was only 85%. The percentage of egg production in Sujanagar was 68%, in Santhia was 72%, and Bera was 75%. The differences in hatchability and egg production between the three areas were significant. Family wise & per bird total income is Tk. 2124 & Tk. 223.95 respectively which is higher than net cost Tk. 1324.23 & Tk. 138.70 respectively. The result of BCR (Benefit Cost Ratio) was 1.60 in family wise and per bird wise was 1.61. Its indicate that if backyard chicken rearer invest tk.1.0 then they can get tk.1.60. So family wise they get profit Tk 0.60 & per bird they get profit Tk. 0.61.