Population, distribution and conservation status of ecotype indigenous chicken in Ethiopian

Ethiopia is known for the diversity and wealth of indigenous domestic animals that enhanced livestock sector which has been contributing considerable portion to the economy of the country. Chicken are among the economically important livestock species which are most widely spread and dominant poultry species. Since local chicken have good potential to adapt in different agro-ecology and provide luxurious source of family protein and income to rural poor households in Ethiopia, promoting the resources using scientific journals, research publications, manuals, policies and strategic documents will have paramount importance to enhance the benefit of the sector to the society. Therefore, this review is, aimed to be carried out to briefly reveal the status major ecotypes of chickens so far identified and their population and geographic distribution, as well as the potential reproductive performances of chicken. Moreover, the review tried to address the economically important production constraints including but not limited to disease, feed and nutrition, markets access and indiscriminate cross breeding with less adaptive exotic chicken breed. This review clearly showed that there is still a need to carry out intensive characterization and identification research both at phenotypic and DNA (genetic) levels to exhaustively identify chicken ecotype of the country. It is also important that researchers, development workers and policy maker work together to put practical and workable strategy to improve, conserve and sustainably utilize the genetic resources for the good of the community.