Abstract:

The poultry industry in Uganda is mainly based on free-range (scavenging) indigenous chickens,
kept at the subsistence level. Chicken population rose from 23.5 million in 2005 to 37.4 million
in 2008; and most of these chicken (over 80%) were indigenous to the country. A survey was
conducted in Central Uganda to assess the available feed resources for chicken. The study
involved300 household heads purposively selected. A focus group discussion involving 50 farmers
from the same community, was also involved. Issues related to feeds, especially high prices were
the main factors contributing to reduced chicken production in the study areas. Less than 5% of
the farmers knew the nutritive contents of the chicken feeds. Sixty percent gave alternative feeds
depending on season of availability. There was a ciear difference between farmers who had some
knowledge about feed nutrient composition and those who had no idea. Furthermore, the
competition between food and feed furthered the increase in feed prices, thus forcing producers
to look for alternative feeds and locally available feeds. The possibility for utilising by-products
for poultry feeds need research attention.