ABSTRACT
A pathological investigation on
the prevalence and mortality rate of poultry diseases in Uyo LGA was conducted.
A total of 1981 sample of poultry birds were analysed. Diagnosis of different
disease conditions was made. The prevalence of diagnosed diseases included
Infectious Bursal disease (IBD) (24.74%), Newcastle Disease (ND) (14.34%),
Coccidiosis (8.03%) and avian influenza (7.12%). Also, IBD (11.11%) had the
highest mortality rate, followed by ND (6.76%), avian influenza (5.1%) and
coccidiosis (5%). Dry
season weather types present greater risk to poultry farming in Uyo LGA. It was
concluded that the village chicken population is endemically infected with ND,
Avian influenza, coccidiosis and IBD, with a high proportion of household
flocks experiencing new cases. The data clearly indicated that IBD had the
highest prevalence in Uyo LGA followed by ND. Comparatively low mortality due
to these diseases indicate that there is a good preventive and control measures
put in place by the households involved in poultry.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of Study
Agriculture in Nigeria has remained the
largest sector contributing nearly 39% to the gross domestic product for the
past two decades and employing nearly 60% of its workforce. Over 80% of the
country’s population in the rural areas is directly or indirectly dependent on
agriculture for its livelihood (NBC,2005). The Nigeria livestock resources
consist of 13,885,813 cattle; 34,453,724 Goat; 22,092, 602 sheep; 3,406,381
pigs; 104,247,960 poultry (Rim, 1992). From these figures, poultry is about 58.
72% of the total livestock production which indicates the place of poultry
sub-sections in the livestock industry.
Poultry plays an important economic,
nutritional and socio-cultural role in the livelihood or rural household in
many developing countries including Nigeria. Poultry are birds that include
fowl, turkey, duck, goose, ostrich guinea fowl, pigeon etc. which render not
only economic services but contribute significantly to human food as a primary
supplier of meat, egg, raw materials for industries (feathers, waste products),
source of income and employment to people compare to other domestic animals (Avila
1985; Demehe, 2004).
Poultry meat and eggs play a very
useful role in protein production in Nigeria. They are palatable and generally
acceptable. This acceptability cuts across nearly all cultural region
boundaries in Nigeria. Poultry industry plays important role in the development
of Nigeria economy. Poultry production has become a full time job for many
Nigerians and significantly contribute to the Groose National Product (GNP)
(Umeh and Odo; 2002). Poultry products mainly meat and eggs represent important
food for improving the nutritional status particularly of the most vulnerable
populations-children and pregnant women. Poultry production is an important
part of farming in many parts of the world. The major attracting factor in
poultry production is probably the tendency of providing a fairly rapid return
on capital (Abdulkali; 2002)
The poultry industry in Nigeria has
recorded considerable expansion in recent time (FAO, 2000). For example, the
creation of Akwa Ibom State in 1987 and the increased activities of oil and gas
companies in the area with the resultant improvement in the demand for animal
protein especially in the form of poultry products. This has led to the
establishment of poultry farms which are located in Uyo agricultural zone of
the state. While overall national increase in poultry production has probably
triggered off vigorous research into alternative and cheaper feed resources
urgently needed to sustain such growth: there is the need to continually focus
attention on the health of the animals in other to realize the full potential
of the industry (Fasami; 1990).
Poultry diseases remain one of the
major threats to boosting poultry production in Nigeria (Halle et al., 1998;
Laseinde, 2002). Poultry diseases continue to play major central role in
hampering its development (FAO, 1998; Rushton et al, 1999) The impact of
diseases on animal agriculture is typically assessed in quantitative terms. In
poultry industry examples of these terms include lost revenues, costs of
vaccination/prevention, eradication decontamination and restocking. These have
been referred to as a negative input (Unrusfield, 1995). In Nigeria, diseases
are among the major factors that hinder poultry development (Alanargot, 1987;
Alemu, 1995). A lot of losses in poultry have been linked to diseases causing
agents such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. It has been estimated that more
than 750 million chicken, guinea fowls and duckling in Africa die each year as
a result of various infections (Sonaiya 1990). Although somewhat in birds
parasitic has been achieved by commercial production system mostly due to
improved housing hygiene and management practices, the prevalence of infectious
diseases is still very rampant (Pandry et at: 1992). Nigeria has a
comparatively well developed poultry industry for West African Nation.
Apantaku (2006) described this trend to
the low level of poultry production in comparison to the level of poultry
technologies being generated by Nigerian poultry researchers. The prevailing
situation became worsen in 2006 by the reported outbreak of highly pathogenic
and viral diseases like Avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bursal
disease and coccidiosis. Obayelu (2007) reports that the diseases outbreak led
many poultry farmer into psychological breakdown due to losses incurred and
also affected animal protein intake of a large sector of Nigeria population.
Major limitations confronting the
industry are numerous. The problems confronting the poultry industry in Nigeria
include disease, low egg production, poor chick quality, poor weight gain, lack
of capital, management problems etc (Van et al.; 1995; Apan taku et al; 1998;
Ojo; 2003). Other problems include high cost of drugs and equipment such as
battery cases, high cost of feeding, increasing cost of medications, marketing
and lack of storage facilities as well as unfriendly government policy and
finance. Sources of economic losses in poultry include lack of technical
know-how, poor quality feed, poor housing, mismanagement and of great significance,
disease outbreak which had received tremendous attention (Adekumisi et al;
1996; Torimiiro et. al., 2002).
Despite the economic significance of
the diseases to the commercial and small scale poultry producers in the
country, no substantial research has been done to asses its economic losses.
With the increasing interest in poultry production evidenced by the
proliferation in poultry farms, it is pertinent to continually evaluate the
prevalence rate and management issues associated with common poultry disease
such as Avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease and
coccidiosis.
1.2 Statement
of Problem
The incidence of poultry diseases in
Nigeria has led many poultry farmers into psychological breakdown due to losses
incurred. Poultry diseases has a gross attack rate on commercial poultry
production. Culling birds in order to eradicate and control the spread of the
diseases has negatively affected the livelihoods of all classes of poultry
owners and producers. Such an impact is most serious on the smaller family
producer and commercial producer whom poultry production is their sole of
income generation. Effects of poultry diseases on the economy. Where market is
lost through the reduced rate to export, restriction of movement of birds and
the closing of some domestic markets is especially the constraint which affect
the income generating ability of smaller producers in the zone (Mettzer et al.,
1999). The non-consumption of poultry meat as well as its products has also
affected animal protein intake in the large sector of the population. The most
pronounced affect is the sharp decline in demand as people avoided eating and
demanding for poultry product out of fear of being infected (WHO, 2004a). The
survivability of poultry industry in Nigeria is very low due to poor management
techniques embarked upon by rural poultry farmers, and outbreak of seasonally
defendant diseases that can account for high chick losses and mortality.
1.3 Purpose
of Study
The study is aimed at examining the
prevalence rate of poultry diseases and mortality of flock in the study area.
1.3.1Specific
Objectives
Specifically, the study seeks the
following objectives to:
i.
determine the prevalence
rate of Avian influenza and its mortality rate on poultry in Uyo Local
Government Area.
ii.
determine the prevalence
rate of Newcastle Disease and its mortality rate on poultry in Uyo Local
Government Area.
iii.
determine the prevalence
rate of infectious Bursal disease and its mortality rate on poultry in Uyo
Local Government Area.
iv.
determine the prevalence
rate of coccidiosis and its mortality rate on poultry in Uyo Local Government
Area.
1.4 Research Questions
- What is the prevalence rate of
Avian influenza and its mortality rate on poultry on Uyo Local Government
Area? - What is the
prevalence rate of Newcastle diseases and its mortality rate on poultry in
Uyo Local Government Area? - What is the
prevalence rate of infectious Bursal disease and its mortality rate on
poultry in Uyo Local Government Area? - What is the
prevalence rate of coccidiocsis and its mortality rate on poultry in Uyo
Local Government Area?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The finding of this study will motivate the farmer to
produce quality and disease free products capable of meeting the nutritional
requirement of address the problems of malnutrition, food insecurity low income
and poverty as a whole.
Nigerian policy makers and Animal Health Professionals
will benefit from the study as the studies will expose them to the cause of
major epidermis seen each year resulting in death of many birds, and this
knowledge will enable more precise disease control planning.
The study will provide valuable data to the scientist for
epidemiogical studies both logically throughout Nigeria through collaboration.
The data will also assist them with a role informing animal health and disease
control policy.
The study will be significant in the training of farmers
on improve livestock breeds for the gradual upgrading of local breeds.
This study will help to increase productivity of poultry
farms which in turn will create job opportunity to the community and reduce the
cost of production. Also the more progressive or productive the poultry farm
is, the more produce will be supplied to the market for distribution.
The study will help the community dwellers and those
practicing poultry on subsistence level in Uyo Local Government Area by
teaching them poultry management practices and approaches which can be used to
achieve improved performance in their business.
1.6 Definition of Terms
Prevalence
The proportion of individuals in a population having a disease or
characteristic. Prevalence is a statistical concept referring to the number of
cases of a disease that are present in a particular population at a given time,
whereas incidence refers to the number of new cases that develop in a given
period of time.
Disease
A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or
plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a
specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
Mortality rate
Mortality rate, or death
rate, is a measure of the
number of deaths
(in general, or due to a specific cause) in a particular population, scaled to
the size of that
population, per unit of time.
Poultry
“Poultry”
can be defined as domestic fowls, including chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks,
raised for the production of meat or eggs and the word is also used for the
flesh of these birds used as food.