Poultry farming in one of the lucrative farming enterprises in most countries in Agriculture sector. Poultry meat mainly comes from two sources: broilers and cockerel. The small poultry farmer prefers to rear cockerel than broiler because of low cost and lesser susceptibility to disease compared to broiler production.

Cockerels are raised in both urban and rural areas. Cockerel is a male chicken under one year of age.

Benefit of Cockerel production or farming;

1. The meat is tasty and well-accepted
2. There is no taboo against eating of the meat
3. It can be raised on small and large-scale.
4. Cockerel is hardy and less susceptible to disease compared to other poultry
5. It can be raised under intensive and semi-intensive system of production.
6. The meat is low in fat and cholesterol compared to broiler’s meat
7. It is commonly raised by local people
8. It is a good source of animal protein and it is of high biologicalvalue.
9. It is a good source of income to farmers
10. The business can be combined with other farm business
11. The day old cockerel could be easily sourced.
12. Cockerel marketing is all year round and not seasonal.
13. At maturity it can reach market weight of 3-4kg.

There are different types of cockerel breeds in the world. The breeds could be classified as; (i) Local cockerel (ii) Exotic cockerel.

Types of Exotic Breeds of Cockerel Chicken

A)     Australorp

Origin                    –              Australia

Classification      –              Heavy breed

Weight                 –              3.20 – 3.60kg

Colours available-            Black

B)      Gold Laced Wvandottes

Origin                    –              North America

Classification      –              Heavy breed

Egg colour           –              Tinted

Weights               –              3.20 – 3.80

C)      Rhode Island Reds

Origin                    –              North America

Classification      –              Heavy Breed, Soft Feather

Egg colour           –              Tinted to brown

Weights               –              3.00 – 3.60kg

Colours available-            Red

D)     Plymouth Rocks

Origin                    –              North America

Classification      –              Heavy Breed, Soft Feather

Weights               –              3.6 – 4.30kg

E)      Silkies

Origin                    –              Asia

Classification      –              Light Breed, Soft feather

Weights               –              1.20 – 1.50kg

Colours available-            White, Black, Lavender, Blue, Partridge.

F)      Light Sussex

Origin                    –              Britain

Classification      –              Heavy Breed, Soft feather

Weight                 –              3.20 – 3.60kg

Colour available-              Light

G)     Rhode Island Whites

Origin                    –              North America

Classification      –              Heavy Breed, Soft feather

Egg colour           –              Tinted to brown

Weights               –              3.40 – 3.90kg

Coloures available-          White

H)     Speckled Sussex

Origin                    –              Britain

Classification      –              Heavy Breed, Soft feather

Egg colour           –              Tinted

Weights               –              3.60 – 4.10kg

Colours available-            Speckled.

LOCAL COCKEREL

Local Cockerel

It is of small stature. The colour varies from one region to the others. It is hardy and reared mainly under extensive system of production where they roam about and fend for themselves. The matire size could reach up to 2.5kg

Classification of Cockerel

Name                    –              Cockerel

Kingdom              –              Animalia

Order                    –              Galliformes

Family                   –              Phasianidae

Genus                   –              Gallus

Specie                   –              gallus or domesticus

Zoological Name               –              Gallus gallus or Gallus domesticus