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Effect of vegetation density on survival of South African free-ranging indigenous chicken broods

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Abstract

The survival of juveniles from hatching until recruitment is a critical determinant of indigenous chicken population growth under extensive free-range production systems. A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the impact of vegetation cover on survival of indigenous chicken broods in Msinga, South Africa. Survival records of 281 chicks hatched in sparsely vegetated (SV) communal lands and 233 hatched chicks in densely vegetated (DV) resettlement areas were collected from hatch until 12 weeks of age. Data on probable cause of death of individual chicks was collected using a structured checklist. Kaplan-Meir survival distributions and log rank tests were used to estimate the survival functions of broods between vegetation cover types. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between management factors and mortality risk in SV and DV. Chick survival from hatching to 12 weeks was higher in SV (55 ± 3.14%) than DV (41 ± 4.19%) (P < 0.05). Mean chick survival time did not differ between SV (56 ± 3.30 days) and DV (49 ± 3.23 days) (P > 0.05). Aerial predators were the major cause of chick mortality (over 60%) followed by terrestrial predators (30%) in both vegetation cover types. The odds of mortality were higher in DV compared to SV (P < 0.05). It was concluded that increasing vegetation cover decreases survival of scavenging chicks between hatching and end of brooding at 12 weeks of age, and therefore brood management actions should ensure adequate protection of free-ranging chicken broods in densely vegetated rearing habitats.

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Data availability

All data used in this study will be presented upon request.

Abbreviations

SV:

Sparse vegetation

DV:

Dense vegetation

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Rauri Alcock, Brigid Letty and Gugu Mbatha of Mdukutshani Rural Development Programme for the support and interest in the study.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation, Republic of South Africa.

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  1. N. Chikumba

    Present address: Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 35, Marondera, Zimbabwe

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  1. Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    N. Chikumba & M. Chimonyo

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  1. N. Chikumba
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Correspondence to M. Chimonyo.

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The study was conducted with the approval of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Animal Ethics Research Committee (Reference number: 048/12/Animal) and in line with the guidelines of the committee.

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Chikumba, N., Chimonyo, M. Effect of vegetation density on survival of South African free-ranging indigenous chicken broods. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 47 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02446-9

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