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Chicken breeding The challenges of chicken production in Mali One of the biggest challenges of African chickens is disease. The enormous heat causes a weak immune system and rainfall increases the presence of insects and fungi, that the chickens constantly suffer from. European hybrid chickens are particularly vulnerable to this. Local breeders buy these European chickens from Bamako (650 km) or in Dakar (Senegal, 750 km). Often only 1/3 survives this trip. The rest will become unhealthy, expensive and reared chickens. These hybrid chickens are born by inbreeding and combining the genes of two parents, can't have chicks of their own. The hybrid chickens are immediately very hungry. After five to seven weeks (an average of 42 days, depending on food and climate), the chicken weighs two kilos and is slaughtered. If you wouldn't slaughter the animal at this age, it becomes helpless and can't stand on its own feet anymore. Consequently, farmers suddenly have to deal with a large number of slaughtered chickens, and they have to store them in freezers. The regular power outages then cause very serious problems, and in the end, the meat is lost. These purchased chickens are kept in primitive stables, but cannot withstand the heat of March, April, May, June, July and August. These factors lead to high prices for chicken (EUR 4-5 for 1.5 kg), which are consequently more expensive than sheep or cattle. Moreover, they are only available in the cold season. How do we do it. In cooperation with the Institute of Agriculture in Bamako, the variety 3/4 was selected for the Biopal project. This is a very popular variety in the country, but it is hard to find. The Institute in Bamako hopes to change this, with the help of Biopal. In addition to 3/4, the CouNue and Brahma's are also very much in demand and very suitable. To breed these chickens, three different, natural breeds are selected to make the chickens even more robust and healthy. Although the growth of these chicken breeds is much slower, this is also their advantage. They are robust, heat-resistant and highly resistant to diseases. The 3/4 goose lays fewer eggs (150/year), but these can be used for breeding. The breed allows them to roam outside despite the climatic conditions. Considering the problems with chicken, eggs and meat in general and the high price involved, the Biopal project will focus on this issue. The project mainly focuses on the breeding of chicks. The farmers can let them grow up and sell them later. The stables and infrastructure for this they built with our knowledge and adapted to the great heat, which is one of the main problems in Mali. The training of the workers and farmers in the area is necessary for the proper functioning of the project. This is done in collaboration with the local NGO ALD ( Association pour le developpement du Logo ), which already exists since 2009. The maximum capacity of the incubator is 26,000 eggs per month. The efficiency level is standard above 80 percent, which means we can produce up to 20,800 chicks every month. The eggs, which are imported from laying hens, have an efficiency level of 60 percent. This difference can be explained by the fact that our own production can be placed in the incubator the same day. In the first ten days, all chicks have to go through a vaccination program that offers protection against diseases. Only then can they be sold to different participants for a low price. The participants (women from the villages, farmers or families) can then decide to put the chickens in the incubator for 10 days, 20 days or more. and then sell it at a profit. They can also decide to continue breeding the chickens themselves. This creates independence and gives the people of Kayes the opportunity to earn their own living. Biopal breeds chickens in the Kayes region. These are available for local farmers who produce for the local market. to obtain a higher income. A production of hatching eggs with own chickens does not require any import. A private incubator is available with a capacity of 30,000 per month. This modern installation operates completely autonomously on solar energy. An example for the region that this is possible without reliable external electricity. Chicks are delivered to the farmers in the region, they grow them and sell them on the market or use them for their own consumption. The farmers receive training in agriculture with an emphasis on poultry breeding, in cooperation with the local NGO. |
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