| dc.description.abstract | Intensive management systems have been successfully employed in layer chicken production in other parts of the world, resulting in increased egg production and profitability and layer chicken production is a vital economic activity in Uganda. Therefore, an increased number of farmers in Mukono district are adopting Intensive management systems of layer poultry production. However, despite the adoption of Intensive management systems in Uganda, there are concerns about the efficiency these systems interms of performance and profitability. The study aimed to assess the returns on investment in Intensive management systems of layer chicken production among farmers in Musa district, Uganda, specifically focusing on characterizing layer chicken farmers and determining returns on investment of deep litter and battery cage systems. By establishing the relationship between housing system and returns on investment as well as analyzing the impact of socioeconomic characteristics on birds in these housing systems. While adopting a cross sectional approach, the study used a random sample of 80 poultry farmers, 40 deep litter farmers and 40 battery cage farmers selected across the entire district.
Data was collected using structured questionnaires, Returns on investment was assessed using the return on investment model, and a t-test model. Through a comprehensive data collection process, findings revealed that deep litter system demonstrates a higher return on investments (0.66) compared to battery cage system(0.34). Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship between the housing system employed and returns on investments such as labor(P<0.1), vaccination (P<0.1), electricity(P<0.05), and additional costs(P<0.1) was identified. These results underline the importance of considering different housing option generally planning for layer chicken farming as it directly translates into financial gains or losses. A number of various socioeconomic characteristics were found to significantly impact the birds' performance in the housing system. These include type of feed given to birds(P<0.1), farmer's education level (P<0.05), farmer's experience (P<0.01), number of households (P<0.1), and annual income(P<0.01).
The study recommends farmers to seek professional advice, guidance and training, keep records on costs and revenue properly and regularly, monitor and evaluate performance regularly, prioritize bio security and vaccination protocols to minimize disease outbreaks and associated costs and implement efficient labor management in order to optimize returns on labor investment. | en_US |
