Three kampung chicken farming systems are currently practised. A traditional farming
system with a small number of chickens is common for most village families. The birds are
left to scavenge in the backyard or in the garden, and are provided with limited facilities such
as a simple cage and a small amount of food scraps or sometimes rice bran. Five to 12 eggs
are brooded by hens in each clutch and the chicks are raised for three months. Losses of
young chickens can be high, sometimes reaching 100 percent. Nonetheless, under this
production system, farmers still get some benefit from selling or consuming the chicken.
However, the additional revenue from kampung chickens is unpredictable, and the chicken
activity is considered to be a part of family savings.
The second farming system is semi-intensive. Considerable care is given to the chickens,
including vaccination. As well, young chicks are given two weeks of full feeding after
separation from the hen. The number of birds kept can be as high as 50. The chickens are
usually allowed to scavenge in the backyard or in the garden after morning feeding and are
then brought back to their cages in the afternoon. Eggs and meat from young and culled
chickens are produced in this system. If meat is the main product, additional income of from
Rp. 10 000 to Rp. 150 000 per month could be generated if the system is well maintained. If
eggs are the main product, additional income may increase to Rp. 100 000 per month.
However, the number of farmers using this system is very small compared to the traditional
system.
The third system is an intensive farming system, in which kampung chickens are kept in
cages with a full feeding programme throughout the production period. This system is the
outcome of the government programme concerned with the intensification of kampung
chicken and the development of an improved poultry industry. The number of chickens kept
under this system needs to be at least 100 mature hens and they are usually in individual
cages for egg production. A farmer will normally look for pullets at the beginning of the
production period and at the replacement period for older hens. The cost of this system is
high because of the capital investment for cages, the cost of young pullets and commercial
feed, and the amount of labour required. With family management of 200 hens, the system
will yield as much as Rp. 180 000 per month (Diwyanto et al., 1996). Meat can also be
produced from culled hens, leading to the conclusion that the system is a suitable family
operation.
The intensive system for meat production has not become popular yet, because it requires
skill and more investment for breeding, hatching and keeping young chickens to market
weight. A government programme called Village Breeding Centre (VBC), introduced in the
late 1980s or early 1990s, seemed to have been unsuccessful. A ranch system was introduced
in the VBC on 6 m2 of land with 10 mature hens and 2 mature cockerels being mated. Eggs
were collected and incubated. This ranch system was found to be not efficient, so the
Research Institute for Animal Production (RIAP) attempted to introduce an Artificial
Insemination (AI) technique for intensive egg production as an alternative to the ranch
system. The programme seemed to work and was explained to the extension officers of the
Livestock District Office. However, the success of the AI programme has not been evaluated
yet.
Little labour is required for the traditional system, because the farmers are not using kampung
chickens as the main income source. Control of ND with the assistance of the government
could improve the traditional smallholder system. The semi-intensive system might also be
improved by increasing the skills of farmers, and through the provision of credit and the
creation of a reliable market. The intensive system could be developed by increasing the
numbers of birds kept and by providing input and output facilities close to the area where
development of the industry is planned. However, the industry has not produced enough
young chicks and this is a major constraint facing the kampung chicken farming system.
On the other hand, feed costs have increased, and this is regarded as a constraint for the
poultry industry. This situation could be worsened by the difficulties facing the economy
through increased prices of imported soybean meal, fishmeal and corn grain. Furthermore,
the national production of soybean and fishmeal is currently very poor.
The low productivity of the kampung chicken in meat and eggs is obvious compared to
improved chickens. The kampung chicken is a domesticated native bird that has not been
7
improved genetically through a major selection or cross-breeding programme.
system with a small number of chickens is common for most village families. The birds are
left to scavenge in the backyard or in the garden, and are provided with limited facilities such
as a simple cage and a small amount of food scraps or sometimes rice bran. Five to 12 eggs
are brooded by hens in each clutch and the chicks are raised for three months. Losses of
young chickens can be high, sometimes reaching 100 percent. Nonetheless, under this
production system, farmers still get some benefit from selling or consuming the chicken.
However, the additional revenue from kampung chickens is unpredictable, and the chicken
activity is considered to be a part of family savings.
The second farming system is semi-intensive. Considerable care is given to the chickens,
including vaccination. As well, young chicks are given two weeks of full feeding after
separation from the hen. The number of birds kept can be as high as 50. The chickens are
usually allowed to scavenge in the backyard or in the garden after morning feeding and are
then brought back to their cages in the afternoon. Eggs and meat from young and culled
chickens are produced in this system. If meat is the main product, additional income of from
Rp. 10 000 to Rp. 150 000 per month could be generated if the system is well maintained. If
eggs are the main product, additional income may increase to Rp. 100 000 per month.
However, the number of farmers using this system is very small compared to the traditional
system.
The third system is an intensive farming system, in which kampung chickens are kept in
cages with a full feeding programme throughout the production period. This system is the
outcome of the government programme concerned with the intensification of kampung
chicken and the development of an improved poultry industry. The number of chickens kept
under this system needs to be at least 100 mature hens and they are usually in individual
cages for egg production. A farmer will normally look for pullets at the beginning of the
production period and at the replacement period for older hens. The cost of this system is
high because of the capital investment for cages, the cost of young pullets and commercial
feed, and the amount of labour required. With family management of 200 hens, the system
will yield as much as Rp. 180 000 per month (Diwyanto et al., 1996). Meat can also be
produced from culled hens, leading to the conclusion that the system is a suitable family
operation.
The intensive system for meat production has not become popular yet, because it requires
skill and more investment for breeding, hatching and keeping young chickens to market
weight. A government programme called Village Breeding Centre (VBC), introduced in the
late 1980s or early 1990s, seemed to have been unsuccessful. A ranch system was introduced
in the VBC on 6 m2 of land with 10 mature hens and 2 mature cockerels being mated. Eggs
were collected and incubated. This ranch system was found to be not efficient, so the
Research Institute for Animal Production (RIAP) attempted to introduce an Artificial
Insemination (AI) technique for intensive egg production as an alternative to the ranch
system. The programme seemed to work and was explained to the extension officers of the
Livestock District Office. However, the success of the AI programme has not been evaluated
yet.
Little labour is required for the traditional system, because the farmers are not using kampung
chickens as the main income source. Control of ND with the assistance of the government
could improve the traditional smallholder system. The semi-intensive system might also be
improved by increasing the skills of farmers, and through the provision of credit and the
creation of a reliable market. The intensive system could be developed by increasing the
numbers of birds kept and by providing input and output facilities close to the area where
development of the industry is planned. However, the industry has not produced enough
young chicks and this is a major constraint facing the kampung chicken farming system.
On the other hand, feed costs have increased, and this is regarded as a constraint for the
poultry industry. This situation could be worsened by the difficulties facing the economy
through increased prices of imported soybean meal, fishmeal and corn grain. Furthermore,
the national production of soybean and fishmeal is currently very poor.
The low productivity of the kampung chicken in meat and eggs is obvious compared to
improved chickens. The kampung chicken is a domesticated native bird that has not been
7
improved genetically through a major selection or cross-breeding programme.
