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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Poultry Science

Short communication: Between tradition and innovation: farmers’ decision-making on artificial incubation in small-scale poultry systems

  • Otoniel Félix Souza1
  • Henrique Carneiro Lobato1
  • Laryssa Fernanda Bernardes1
  • Mariana Cristina Vieira1
  • Leonardo José Camargos Lara1
  • Adriana Gonçalves Silva2
  • Julyana Machado da Silva Martins2
  • Kalu Chaves de Paula3
  • Adriano Geraldo3
  • Kimberly Cristina Abreu Alves4
  • Renata Ribeiro Alvarenga4
  • Márcio Gilberto Zangeronimo4
1 more authors
  • Itallo Conrado Sousa Araújo1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Animal Science, Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  2. 2Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  3. 3Department of Animal Science, Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais, Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  4. 4Department of Animal Science, Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Abstract

This study aims to investigate how farmers perceive, justify, and evaluate the use of natural and artificial incubation, as well as the factors influencing their productive decisions. The research was conducted in four regions of Minas Gerais, Brazil, involving 87 family poultry farmers operating free-range production systems through qualitative content analysis. Results indicated the factors that influence the choice between incubation systems, farmers primarily associated artificial incubation with higher chick production (24.1%), the capacity to set more eggs (12.1%), and greater process control (8.6%). Conversely, constraints included concerns over poor results (6.0%), negative previous experiences (5.2%), and a lack of knowledge (4.3%), with some farmers inadvertently associating natural incubation with better outcomes (2.6%). In terms of perceptions regarding artificial incubation and its specific effects, the better utilization of hens, allowing them to continue laying eggs rather than brooding, was related by few producers (4.3%). Furthermore, when evaluating motivations to increase overall chick production, economic factors were the primary drivers, specifically the explicit desire to increase income (22.7%) and improve profitability (9.8%). However, these goals were hindered by systemic challenges such as production costs (3.3%) and a lack of infrastructure (2.2%). In conclusion, the decision-making process regarding incubation systems is not exclusively driven by objective productivity gains, rather, it is significantly mediated by farmers' subjective perceptions of risk, empirical knowledge, and their sociocultural context. Successful and sustainable technological transitions in small-scale poultry systems require continuous technical support and adequate training, strictly aligned with the traditional values and multifunctional dynamics of rural livelihoods.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{souza2026short,
  title = {{Short communication: Between tradition and innovation: farmers’ decision-making on artificial incubation in small-scale poultry systems}},
  author = {Otoniel Félix Souza and Henrique Carneiro Lobato and Laryssa Fernanda Bernardes and Mariana Cristina Vieira and Leonardo José Camargos Lara and Adriana Gonçalves Silva and Julyana Machado da Silva Martins and Kalu Chaves de Paula and Adriano Geraldo and Kimberly Cristina Abreu Alves and Renata Ribeiro Alvarenga and Márcio Gilberto Zangeronimo and Itallo Conrado Sousa Araújo},
  journal = {Poultry Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107581},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107581},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Short communication: Between tradition and innovation: farmers’ decision-making on artificial incubation in small-scale poultry systems
AU  - Otoniel Félix Souza
AU  - Henrique Carneiro Lobato
AU  - Laryssa Fernanda Bernardes
AU  - Mariana Cristina Vieira
AU  - Leonardo José Camargos Lara
AU  - Adriana Gonçalves Silva
AU  - Julyana Machado da Silva Martins
AU  - Kalu Chaves de Paula
AU  - Adriano Geraldo
AU  - Kimberly Cristina Abreu Alves
AU  - Renata Ribeiro Alvarenga
AU  - Márcio Gilberto Zangeronimo
AU  - Itallo Conrado Sousa Araújo
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/05
JO  - Poultry Science
DO  - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107581
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107581
AB  - This study aims to investigate how farmers perceive, justify, and evaluate the use of natural and artificial incubation, as well as the factors influencing their productive decisions. The research was conducted in four regions of Minas Gerais, Brazil, involving 87 family poultry farmers operating free-range production systems through qualitative content analysis. Results indicated the factors that influence the choice between incubation systems, farmers primarily associated artificial incubation with higher chick production (24.1%), the capacity to set more eggs (12.1%), and greater process control (8.6%). Conversely, constraints included concerns over poor results (6.0%), negative previous experiences (5.2%), and a lack of knowledge (4.3%), with some farmers inadvertently associating natural incubation with better outcomes (2.6%). In terms of perceptions regarding artificial incubation and its specific effects, the better utilization of hens, allowing them to continue laying eggs rather than brooding, was related by few producers (4.3%). Furthermore, when evaluating motivations to increase overall chick production, economic factors were the primary drivers, specifically the explicit desire to increase income (22.7%) and improve profitability (9.8%). However, these goals were hindered by systemic challenges such as production costs (3.3%) and a lack of infrastructure (2.2%). In conclusion, the decision-making process regarding incubation systems is not exclusively driven by objective productivity gains, rather, it is significantly mediated by farmers' subjective perceptions of risk, empirical knowledge, and their sociocultural context. Successful and sustainable technological transitions in small-scale poultry systems require continuous technical support and adequate training, strictly aligned with the traditional values and multifunctional dynamics of rural livelihoods.
SN  - 0032-5791
SN  - 1525-3171
ER  -