Vulnerability of indigenous chicken scavenging production system to climate variability

Abstract

Indigenous chickens (ICs) reared under scavenging production system are central to food security and poverty alleviation among rural households in Uganda. However, climatic variability threatens their productivity by altering the availability and quality of scavengeable feed resources and compromising chicken welfare. Farmers’ limited ability to modify the open scavenging environment further heightens chickens’ vulnerability to environmental fluctuations. This study assessed farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of climate variability, its effects on indigenous chickens, coping strategies employed, and factors influencing adoption of these strategies. It further evaluated seasonal variation in Scavengeable Feed Resources (SFR) and examined the effects of elevated ambient temperature on the physiology and thermoregulatory behavior of ICs. Data were collected in Soroti District through a cross-sectional survey of 271 indigenous chicken farmers, 10 key informant interviews, four focus group discussions, and analysis of local climate records (2003–2022). In addition, 120 ICs aged 4–5 months were obtained across four seasons for crop content characterization and chemical analysis. Two indigenous chicken ecotypes one from the cooler Kabale (KAB) and the other from the hotter Soroti (SOR) regions were assessed for thermal responses. These pullets were sequentially exposed to ambient temperatures of 30, 33, 36, and 39 °C in a controlled heat chamber, with thermoregulatory behaviors recorded and rectal temperature measured. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, ordered probit regression, the Modified Mann–Kendall test, and linear mixed-effects models, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Most farmers perceived decreases in annual rainfall (63.8%) and rainy-season duration (>50%), alongside increases in dry (91.1%) and rainy-season (71.2%) temperatures and drought frequency (79.3%). Meteorological data showed a significant rise in monthly minimum temperatures but no significant trends in rainfall or average and maximum temperatures. Farmer perceptions of rising temperatures aligned with observed minimum temperature trends, while perceived rainfall declines did not. Perceived impacts of high temperature on ICs included reduced egg production (56%), hatchability (63.4%), increased disease incidence (58.6%), and higher mortality (45.1%). Coping strategies mainly involved provision of drinking water, shade, and feed supplementation, with adoption significantly influenced by gender, age, flock size, weather information access, training in poultry management and resource access. Seasonal variation significantly (P<0.05) affected feed availability and quality. Insects dominated (P=0.032) crop contents, with higher proportions during wet seasons which was followed by food waste, while dry seasons had more cereals and legumes. Nutrient levels in crop contents were generally below age-specific requirements for protein, calcium, and metabolizable energy during the first dry season and both wet seasons. Whereas crude fiber consistently exceeded recommended levels. Thermoregulatory responses differed by ecotype, with KAB chickens exhibiting earlier and longer heat-dissipating behaviors and greater increases in body temperature than SOR chickens. Overall, climatic variability imposes both nutritional and thermal stress on indigenous chickens, increasing their vulnerability under the scavenging production system. The findings highlight the need for integrated adaptation strategies, including climate literacy, localized weather information, season-specific low-fiber feed supplementation, provision of cool, clean drinking water under shaded areas, and practical training in climate-resilient poultry management to enhance the resilience of IC scavenging production system.