T he Philippine native chicken is an important yet
untapped indigenous animal resource, providing high
quality protein food. It gives additional livelihood to about
2.5 million rural Filipino families. Because it has a
recognized vibrant niche market throughout the archipelago,
it has endured pressures from commercial broiler and layer
markets dominated by multinational and big local
corporations.
At the moment, native chickens are raised in a subsistence
manner, resulting in high mortalities, low productivity, and
inconsistent product quality. Moreover, breeder stocks
with desired characteristics that are genetically and
physically uniform are lacking. This further results in
unstable supply of uniform day-old and hardened chicks and
slaughter chickens. Although technologies for processing
and value adding of native chicken-based food products are
available, they need further refinement. There is thus a
need to transform the farmers’ production system from
subsistence to an enterprise.
To address these gaps, an initial three-year science and
technology (S&T)-based intervention has been laid down.
These include selection and improvement of breeder
stocks, development of organic production systems, and
value adding of native chicken products. For these
initiatives to be implemented, a P30 million public
investment would be required.
With these S&T interventions, uniformity in production
performance and product quality can be achieved. Thus, a
potential income of P20,625 per year can be generated by
a rural family raising 15 hens. Considering the low
financial and technological requirements of raising native
chicken, poor farmers can thus engage in this enterprise.
Going into native chicken production, therefore, creates
employment opportunities not only for chicken raisers but
also for traders and others engaged in the chicken-based
food business.
The areas where the S&T interventions will be
implemented are Regions 4, 5, 6, and 7.
These S&T interventions could therefore catalyze the
expansion of native chicken’s current niche market
geographically. This would make “natural and healthy”
food products more available to affluent consumers who
are willing to pay premium price for unique flavor, taste,
and texture. It will also ensure a viable and sustainable
livelihood for rural families while meeting the increasing
demand for high-quality, naturally produced animal
products.
 Native chickens: from scratching to niching

Major Gaps • Lack of genetically stable and phenotypically uniform breeder

native chicken stocks
• Lack of a stable supply of uniform day-old and hardened native
chicks and slaughter chickens
• Lack of technologies for processing and value adding of native
chicken-based food products

S&T Interventions • Developing technologies for the processing and/or value adding
of native chicken-based products
• Developing organic chicken production technology
• Breeding and selecting genetically stable native chicken
populations
• Disseminating information on artificial incubation of native
chicken eggs, artificial brooding and hardening of chicks and on
free-range chicken production technology
• Providing technical support system for animal health
• Creating a price and market information system
• Analyzing the supply chain for native chicken production
• Encouraging local government unit-led technical support services
for native chicken production and marketing
• Operationalizing an animal genetic conservation and utilization
law
• Developing and adopting characteristic and performance
standards of different Philippine native chicken strains

Impact • Increased native chicken productivity, directly benefiting 2.5

million rural families in terms of employment and enterprise
opportunities

Regional Location • Regions 4, 5, 6, and 7

Budget • P30 million in three years

Dr. Patricio S. Faylon

Executive Director
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)

Paseo de Valmayor, Los Baños, Laguna, 4030, Philippines

Tel. Nos.: (63-49) 536-0014 to 20; 536-5896 to 5899
Fax Nos.: (63-49) 536-0016; 536-7922
E-mail: pcarrd@pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Website: http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph