Commercial Breed vs Native Chickens: Key Business Differences

In the chicken farming business, you will come across many terms for chickens, from ayam ras (commercial breed chickens) and ayam buras (short for bukan ras, meaning non-breed or native chickens) to fighting chickens and ornamental chickens. Chickens are grouped this way because of a number of differences. Here are the main differences between ayam ras and ayam buras in the chicken business:

Differences in Type

Commercial breed chickens (ayam ras), also commonly called ayam negeri, fall into 2 major groups: broilers raised for meat and laying hens such as the Leghorn. These two types are usually raised by large poultry companies that operate at scale and serve a wide market. The ayam buras, or non-breed, category includes even more types. You may know the Javanese chicken as an ayam buras, but several other breeds are also classified as native chickens (ayam buras), such as the Kedu, Sumatra, Lampung, Pelung, Arab and Bangkok chickens.

Differences in Purpose

Another difference between ayam ras and ayam buras is the purpose they are raised for. Commercial broilers are, of course, raised so their meat can be sold, and laying hens so their eggs can be sold. Farmers who raise ayam buras also aim to sell meat and eggs. The nutritional value of native chicken meat and eggs is on par with that of commercial breeds. Some people even prefer the meat of ayam buras, or kampung chicken (Indonesian free-range native chicken), because it has a firmer, chewier texture and a richer, more savory flavor than commercial breeds.

Feed and Husbandry

The two types also differ in feed and in how they are raised. Commercial breeds are usually kept in carefully arranged coops and fed manufactured commercial feed to make sure they develop well, reach a high weight at harvest and, in the case of laying hens, lay productively. Native chickens are raised a little differently. They are usually kept in a coop with an open yard. From morning to late afternoon, the chickens are simply let out into the yard to scratch freely for food or grass on the ground, and from late afternoon into the night they are put back in the coop. As for feed, you can give them almost anything, including your table scraps. Common feeds for ayam buras include corn kernels, fine bran, chopped water spinach and chopped papaya leaves. You can also add commercial feed as a supplement.

Differences in Selling Price

Commercial and native chicken businesses also differ in selling price. Native chickens generally sell for more. Native chicken eggs are also relatively more expensive than eggs from commercial breeds.

Native Chickens Can Be Raised in a Small Yard

Native chickens are also relatively easy to raise, even if you only have a small plot of land. You can use the empty yard behind your house to raise ayam buras. When raising chickens on a small plot or yard, the main thing to watch is coop hygiene. Because the coop sits close to your house and your neighbors' homes, you should keep it clean for everyone's comfort by regularly removing chicken droppings so they don't cause unpleasant odors.

Also read 5 Broiler Chicken Traits You Should Know