Naked Necklines come back into fashion

Farmers in Namibia are benefiting from the reintroduction of indigenous chickens. For small scale farmers in isolated, rural areas, they are a wiser choice than over-sensitive and demanding exotic breeds. Their genetic potential may be less but, as has been said before, one cannot eat potential.

credit: Ministry of agriculture, water and rural development, Namibia

Since 1996, the Mashara Agricultural Development Institute in Rundu, Namibia, has been offering the Kavango people of north-east Namibia the chance to buy selected and improved indigenous chickens at cost price. Chickens already form an important source of food and income but, with improved indigenous birds and training in how to get the best from them, more people should be able to enjoy the dietary benefits of eggs more often. It is also hoped that with more chickens around, the stocking rates of other livestock on natural pastures will come down.

Three lines of indigenous chickens are available: the Ovambo line which come in a variety of feather colours and patterns; the Venda line which are black and white; and Naked Necklines which, as their name implies, have no feathers on the neck and are therefore better able to tolerate high temperatures. Although these indigenous chickens can look after themselves, farmers are recommended to provide additional food such as left over porridge or vegetable peelings in order to ensure good growth and high production. Similarly, well ventilated housing provides shade during the intense heat of the daytime and also ensures that the hens have a safe place to lay and incubate their eggs.

Indigenous chickens, unlike exotic breeds, become broody and can thus incubate their own eggs and look after their own chicks. This means fewer eggs, probably between 100 and 150 per year in comparison with exotic layers which can lay between 220 and 300 eggs per year (calculated on the basis of egg laying from 20 weeks of age to slaughter at 72 weeks). However, egg production costs are far lower because there is no need for incubators or artificial daylight, which exotic breeds need to achieve their high production potential. Furthermore, indigenous chickens are far more likely to survive the heat of the Namibian climate and the ever present risk of disease. Farmers may assume that exotic breeds are better but, in reality, for many farmers the local chicken is a wiser choice.

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