KENYA STANDARD  DKS  2774 -6:2021 
ICS 67.12.10  
First  Edition  
  
 © KEBS 2021   
 Grading  live animal  for meat trade -
Specification    
Part 6:  Improved indigenous chicken ( Improved 
kienyeji  
 
 
KS 2774 -6: 2021 
ii © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives 
Ministry of He alth – Food safety Division  
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute  
National Public Health Laborator ies Services  
Government Chemist’s Department 
Food Science and Technology Platform Kenya  
Farmer’s Choice (K) Ltd. 
University of Nairobi — Department of Food  Science and Technology 
South Eastern Kenya University  
Meru University  
Egerton University 
Consu mer Information Network  
Kenchic (K) Ltd. 
Alpha Fine Foods Ltd. 
Kenya Meat Commission  
Directorate of Livestock Production  
Directorate of Veterinary Services  
Quality Meat packers 
Choice Meats Ltd. 
Poultry  Breeders Association  
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Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  Suggestions for 
improvements to publ ished standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, are 
welcome.  
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2021  
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001 of  the Laws of Kenya, copyright subsists 
in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of Sta ndards 
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any mea ns without prior permission in writing from the 
Managing Director.   KENYA STANDARD  KS DKS 2774 -6:2021 
ICS 67.12.10  
First  Edition  
 
© KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  iii 
   Grading  live animal  for meat trade -
Specification    
Part 6:  Improved indigenous chicken (Improved kienyeji    
 
Kenya Bureau of Standards,  Popo Road, Off Mombasa Road,  
P.O. Box 54974 - 00200,  Nairobi, Kenya  
 +254 020 6948000, + 254 722202137, + 254 734600471  
 info@kebs.org  
 @KEBS_ke  
 kenya bureau of standards (kebs)  
  
KS 2774 -6: 2021 
iv © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Meat and Poultry Products  Technical Committee under the guidance 
of the Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of 
Standards . 
This first edition of the standard was found necessary to address market challenges in grading live in digenous 
chicken meant for meat trade .  
KS 2774  consists of the following parts, under the general title Grading live animals for meat trade :  
 Part 1: Cattle   
 Part 2: Goat   
 Part 3: sheep  
 Part 4: Camel  
 Part 5: Indigenous Chicken  
During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following document (s):   
Determination of living animals for slaughter: KS 01 -837: part 1 and 2  
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived from this (these) source (s) : 
Meat Control Act  (Cap 356)  
Animal Welfare and Protection Bill  
Domestic Animal Diversity Network  KS 2774 -6: 2021 
© KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  v 
   Background  
Chicken  production is the fastest growing and most important enterprise  in terms of poverty reduction and food 
security.  There is a growing demand for  indigenous chicken meat owing to its unique taste and flavour . However, 
there are consumer concerns on nutrition, animal welfare issues and fair trade practices.  In order to facilitate 
and expand trade in indigenous chicken, the preparation of this standard was found necessary.  It is therefore 
prudent to develop grading standards for live chicken.  
Standards are used extensively throughout the marketing system  and they furnish an acceptable common 
language that buyers and sellers use in trading . It is upon the same standards  that market information is 
disseminated  and farmers are paid upon. Poultry  firms  that base the price paid to the  producer  on grade yields 
will grade  the product to standards. Processors request grading service to enhance their own quality assurance 
programs and so they may use the official grade  mark on each bird or package.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DKS 2774 -6: 202 1   
 
© KEBS 2021– All rights reserved   
 Grading live animal for meat trade  — Specification  
Part 6: Improved indigenous chicken (Improved kienyeji)  
Scope  
This Kenya standard specifies the requirements for grading live improved indigenous chicken (commonly 
referred to as Improved kienyeji) for meat trade . 
2 Normative references  
There are no normative references in this document.  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
3.1 Grade:  
the defined parameters that segregate live chicken for meat trad e into homogenous groups that is applied by 
market participants based on age, sex, weight and body condition.  
 
3.2 Body condition:  
overall state of an animal body assessed through visual observation and palpation taking into account muscle 
deposition as it  occurs in various parts of the chicken.  
3.3 Body condition score:  
is the score assigned through visual and palpation appraisal of specific body parts. The extent to which specific 
skeletal body parts are either hidden or smoothened by flesh. The chicken are thus characterized as excellent, 
good, or fair.  
3.4 Palpation  
is a method of feeling with fingers or hands during a physical examination for body condition.  
3.5 Live weight:  
the weight of a live animal determined through a standard and acceptable meth od. 
3.6 Indigenous chicken (Kienyeji in Kiswahili):  
Is a chicken population in a specific location or region that are adapted to the local environment and 
conditions  
3.7 Improved indigenous chicken  
It is a chicken obtained through selection within indig enous population and cross -breeding with superior 
kienyeji  chicken and exotic breeds.  
3.8 Exotic breed   
© KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  iii 
  A breed that is not native of Kenya  
3.9 Superior Kienyeji  
Kienyeji chicken with desired traits identiifed through selection  
3.10 Male bird:  
a cockerel or a cock.  
3.11 Cockerel:  
a male chicken usually 3 to 7 months of age.  
3.12 Cock or rooster:  
a mature male chicken usually over 7 months of age with a large comb and wattle; and a considerable weight 
and size  
3.13 Sex:  
refers to whether the chicken is male or female.  
4 Requirements for live Improved indigenous chicken presented for trade
  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1  The live chicken shall be of good health and well -nourished.  
4.2 Specific Requirements  
4.2.1  The eyes of the live chicken shall be bright, nostrils free from discharge, combs and wattles firm and 
bright in colour with glossy feathers . 
4.2.2  The live chicken shall be active and showing no evidence of diarrhoea or any other disease.  
4.2.3  The live chicken shall have glossy scales on the shanks.  
4.2.4  The live chicken shall be free from deformities.  
5   Grading Specifications  
5.1 Grading of chicken shall be done in accordance to age, sex, weight, and body condition  
5.1.1 Age: shall be cate gorised into 3 -7 months, 3 -10 months and 3 months and above based on records or 
estimated based on size and smoothness of the comb characteristic to the breed, the plumage, the length of 
the spur, and appearance of scales on the shank.  
5.1.2 Sex:  Chicken s hall be categorised as either male or female.  
5.1.3 Live Weight :  Shall be based on Kilogram   
iv © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 5.1.4 Body condition:  Body condition shall be scored as: excellent, good, or fair.  
5.2 Table 1: Body condition score  
S.No  Body 
condition  Description  
1.  Excellent  Thighs: bulging,  
breast muscles: well -developed, relatively plumb that provide smooth 
contour with the keel.  
Keel: smoothened  
2.  Good  Thighs: less prominent  
Breast muscles: Moderately developed and convex in shape,  
Keel: Prominent  
3.  Fair  Thighs: no bulging  
Breast muscles: poorly developed along the keel and concave  
Keel: Protruding  
 
5.3 The grading shall be based on the parameters outlined in the table 2 below:  
Table 2: Grades and grading parameters for Improved Indigenous chicken  
S.No  Parameters  Grade A  Grade B  Grade C  
1.  Age  3 – 7 Months  3 – 10 months  3 months and above  
2.  Sex   Male  Male and female  Male and female  
3.  Live weight  2.0 kg (minimum)  1.5 kg (minimum)  No limit  
4.  Body Condition  Excellent  Good  Fair