Philippine E-Journals

Awareness and Adoption Level of Free-range Chicken Practices in Selected Provinces of Northern Luzon

KAE ANN MARIE P. BALINGIT

 

Abstract:

This paper analyzed the awareness and adoption level of production, marketing practices, and limitations of free-range chicken in selected provinces of Northern Luzon, such as Abra, Ilocos Sur, and La Union. The data for this study were obtained using a cross-sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect the needed information. Purposive sampling and snowballing methods were employed to identify respondents. The respondents were mostly 18 to 33 years old who were engage in free-range chicken production for almost a year. The household size was composed of 4 to 6 members who worked together on care and management that almost every family kept for subsistence or commercial reasons. Free-range chicken growers were frequently male, but many females also participated in the production and marketing. Most of the respondents were married and high school graduates. The respondents’ enterprise ownership was typically joint-family ownership and was personally financed to cover all production costs. Generally, respondents were aware and adopting on brooding, care, and maintenance and marketing practices. However, they were aware of and adapting to feeding and watering. The majority of the respondents were strongly aware that the limitations in free range chicken production were a disease, shortage of feeds, and high cost of inputs, predators, thieves, and lack of knowledge.