Abstract:
There has been a research gap in the genetic, physiological, and nutritional aspects of
indigenous chickens of Africa over the past decade. These chickens are known to be economically,
socially, and culturally important to the people of Africa, especially those from marginalised
communities. Although they are associated with poor productivity in terms of the number of eggs
laid, most consumers prefer their flavoursome meat. Several local chickens have been classified
into breeds or ecotypes, but many remain unidentified and are facing extinction. To prevent this,
the Food and Agriculture Organization has launched an indigenous poultry conservation programme.
In addition, the Agricultural Research Council in South Africa has established a programme to protect
four local chicken breeds. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed understanding of the
description, uses and conservation methods of local chicken breeds of Africa. Several studies have
been conducted on the nutritional requirements of local chickens, but the results were inconclusive
and contradictory. This review concludes that local chickens play a significant role in improving
livelihoods, and strategies to preserve and sustain them must be intensified.
