Local chickens have great potential to become a pillar of the national poultry industry, yet their development remains constrained by various challenges.

Amid the rapid industrialization of Indonesia’s poultry sector, local chickens move at their own pace. Their growth may not be as fast as that of commercial breeds, but their presence continues to endure thanks to tradition, long-standing consumption habits, and consumer preferences. This combination allows the local chicken business to maintain its space in the market.

In terminology, local chickens refer to poultry that have long developed and adapted within a particular region. This definition refers to Government Regulation No. 48 of 2011 on Animal Genetic Resources and Livestock Breeding. Under this regulation, local poultry are essentially grouped into two categories.

First are native poultry, breeds that originated and naturally developed in Indonesia, such as ayam kampung, Sentul, Pelung, Kedu, Gaok, Gaga, Kokok Balenggek, and Ayunai chickens.
Second are introduced poultry that have adapted, referring to breeds originating from outside Indonesia but which have long been raised and developed locally, eventually becoming part of the domestic production system. This group includes ayam Arab, Merawang, Nunukan, various ornamental chickens, several duck breeds, and quail.

In an article published in Poultry Indonesia magazine (April 2018 edition) titled “Ayam Lokal: Sejarah, Istilah dan Arah Pengembangannya,” Sofjan Iskandar, a researcher from Indonesian Research Institute for Animal Production in Bogor, explained that the terminology used for local chickens has evolved over time.

Initially, the public was more familiar with the term ayam kampung. As the market developed, the term ayam sayur also emerged in trade to differentiate these birds from commercial broilers. Over time, the term local chicken began to be used more frequently, particularly in scientific, policy, and industry contexts because it is considered more precise in classification.

Nevertheless, among consumers the term ayam kampung remains the most familiar. As a result, in marketing practice, using the name ayam kampung on products is often more easily accepted by end-users than the technical term local chicken, even though both essentially refer to the same group.

From the same source, an inventory has identified at least 34 native Indonesian chicken breeds, although the actual number may be higher. These breeds are widely distributed across the country, including Sentul and Pelung chickens from West Java, Nunukan chickens from Kalimantan, Merawang chickens from South Sumatra, and Ketawa chickens from South Sulawesi, among many others. This genetic diversity represents an important asset for the development of a national poultry industry based on local genetic resources.

On the other hand, local chickens are often described as having significant potential, relatively stable markets, and product characteristics that differ from commercial broilers. However, their contribution to national consumption has actually declined. This situation is influenced by several factors, including limited availability of breeding stock, prices that are relatively higher than broilers, and industrial production scales that remain suboptimal.

According to Ade Zulkarnain, chairman of the Indonesian Local Poultry Farmers Association, the local chicken industry tends to be stagnant and has even experienced decline. A similar view was expressed by Tike Sartika, a researcher at National Research and Innovation Agency and breeder of the Kampung Unggul Balitbangtan (KUB) chicken, who highlighted the challenges faced in developing local chickens in the field.

In fact, local chickens should ideally become the main host in their own country. A blueprint for local chicken development had once been designed with a target of contributing up to 25% of national chicken consumption. This objective also aligns with the mandate of Law No. 18 of 2009 on Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, particularly Article 10, which emphasizes that the government is responsible for optimizing the cultivation and breeding of livestock derived from Indonesia’s native genetic resources, including local chickens. However, these efforts are widely considered to have not yet been implemented optimally.

This situation shows that, despite the many potentials they possess, the development of Indonesia’s local chicken sector still faces complex challenges. For this reason, the dynamics surrounding local chickens deserve deeper discussion. In this Main Report section, various aspects influencing the development of local chickens in Indonesia will be explored—from the current situation in the field, structural challenges faced by industry players, to future strategies and directions for developing the local chicken industry.

It is hoped that through this discussion, the great potential of Indonesia’s poultry genetic resources can be utilized more optimally while encouraging the sustainable development of the local chicken sector.

This article is an excerpt from the Main Report section of Poultry Indonesia magazine, March 2026 edition. Read the full article in Poultry Indonesia Magazine – March 2026 Edition. For subscriptions or further information, contact: https://wa.me/+6287780120754 or sirkulasipoultry@gmail.com.

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