| dc.description.abstract | Poultry is one of the fastest-growing agricultural sub-sectors in the world today. Layer chicken farming is a significant agricultural activity in Ssisa Sub County contributing to the local livelihoods and food security. However, despite the potential benefits, the poultry sector has not reached the development targets due to limited adherence to good management principles, clinging to traditional methods, and technical aspects in production and breeding. There is a lack of information on the factors that affect the performance of layer chicken in Ssisa, which hinders the development of effective interventions and management practices to improve performance and in turn productivity. This study, therefore, assessed the factors affecting the performance of layer chicken in Ssisa Sub County. While adopting a descriptive research design approach, the study used a random sample of 75 farmers selected within the sub-county. Data was collected via interviews and the use of structured questionnaires. The performance was measured based on the percentage of laying birds, how long the birds had been laying, and the laying age of the birds. These were then analyzed using the linear regression model. Results showed that training in layer management (p<0.05), supplements (p<0.05), water intake per day (p<0.1), and feed type (p<0.1) were the major factors affecting performance in Ssisa sub-county. The majority of the farmers (84%) gave disease outbreaks as their biggest challenge management challenge. It was also reported that (77%) of the farmers had ever experienced a disease outbreak on their farm and most of the farmers (69%) stated vaccination as a way to curb disease spread. The study recommends that banks and other financial institutions create more favorable policies and terms to enable layer chicken farmers of Ssisa to access cheap loans and invest in their poultry businesses. Agricultural programs should assist layer chicken farmers by providing input subsidies, especially on poultry feeds. The agricultural extension services should strengthen their presence in Ssisa Sub County offering regular and accessible extension services to educate farmers on best practices in layer management. Training programs and workshops specifically tailored to layer chicken farmers in Ssisa are also essential and could boost performance and productivity. This is stemming from the findings that training has a positive relation with performance. | en_US |
