Evaluation of the growth performance of Kuroiler, Black Australorp, and Indigenous Malawian chickens fed commercial and farm-made diets under intensive production system in Malawi.

Local and improved dual-purpose chickens offer a promising pathway for sustainable poultry development in Malawi due to their adaptability, cultural relevance, and consumer preference. However, productivity remains constrained under traditional scavenging systems. This study evaluated the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Kuroiler, Black Australorp, and Indigenous Malawian chickens reared under a deep-litter system. Birds were offered three dietary treatments: Two commercial diets, and farm-made feed in a 3 × 3 factorial design involving 270 birds over 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using two-way factorial ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05). Kuroilers fed Commercial feed I and farm-made feeds had the highest final body weights (2.84 kg and 2.31 kg), while Black Australorps on Commercial feed II recorded the lowest (0.91 kg). Kuroilers also showed the highest cumulative (14.1 kg) and daily feed intake (0.156 kg), followed by Indigenous chickens (10.1 kg; 0.112 kg). FCR was significantly affected by breed × feed interaction (p = 0.026), with Indigenous chickens fed farm-made and Commercial feed I diets being most efficient (5.55 and 5.63). Nutrient digestibility varied with breed and feed, with Kuroilers on farm-made diets showing highest protein digestibility (67.8%) and Indigenous chickens on Commercial feed I showing highest fibre (54.3%) and NFE digestibility (72.0%). Farm-made diets reduced feeding costs and improved production efficiency across all breeds. All treatment groups achieved 100% survival, and most birds reached market weights (≥ 1.5 kg) within 12 weeks. Compared to ≥ 48 weeks under scavenging systems, these findings demonstrate that tailored breed × feed interventions can improve the productivity of local and improved dual-purpose chickens under intensive systems.