The prevalence of poultry disease and its mortality rate

Project Abstract

Poultry farming is a significant sector in the agriculture industry globally, contributing to food security and economic development. However, one of the major challenges faced by poultry farmers is the prevalence of diseases that can lead to significant mortality rates within flocks. This research project aims to investigate the prevalence of poultry diseases and analyze their associated mortality rates to provide insights for effective disease management strategies. The study will involve collecting data from poultry farms across different regions to assess the types of diseases that commonly affect poultry, their prevalence rates, and the corresponding mortality rates. Various factors such as biosecurity measures, vaccination practices, environmental conditions, and management practices will also be evaluated to determine their impact on disease prevalence and mortality rates. By analyzing the collected data, this research aims to identify the most common poultry diseases, their distribution patterns, and the mortality rates associated with each disease. The study will also explore the relationship between disease prevalence and factors such as farm size, geographical location, and management practices to understand the underlying risk factors contributing to disease outbreaks. The findings of this research will provide valuable information for poultry farmers, veterinarians, and policymakers to develop targeted interventions and strategies for disease prevention and control. By understanding the prevalence of poultry diseases and their mortality rates, stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding biosecurity measures, vaccination programs, and management practices to minimize the impact of diseases on poultry production. Overall, this research project will contribute to the body of knowledge on poultry health and disease management, ultimately benefiting the poultry industry by improving flock health, reducing mortality rates, and enhancing overall productivity. The insights gained from this study can help poultry farmers enhance their disease prevention strategies, leading to improved animal welfare, economic sustainability, and food security in the poultry sector.

Project Overview

<p> </p><p><b>INTRODUCTION<br></b></p><p><b>1.1 &nbsp; &nbsp; <br></b><b>Background<br>of the study</b></p><p>The<br>Agriculture in Nigeria has remained the largest sector contributing nearly 39%<br>to the gross domestic product for the past two decades and employing nearly 60%<br>of its workforce. Over 80% of the country’s population in the rural areas is<br>directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for its livelihood (NBC,2005).<br>The Nigeria livestock resources consist of 13,885,813 cattle; 34,453,724 Goat;<br>22,092, 602 sheep; 3,406,381 pigs; 104,247,960 poultry (Rim, 1992). From these<br>figures, poultry is about 58. 72% of the total livestock production which<br>indicates the place of poultry sub-sections in the livestock industry.</p><p>Poultry<br>plays an important economic, nutritional and socio-cultural role in the<br>livelihood or rural household in many developing countries including Nigeria.<br>Poultry are birds that include fowl, turkey, duck, goose, ostrich guinea fowl,<br>pigeon etc. which render not only economic services but contribute<br>significantly to human food as a primary supplier of meat, egg, raw materials<br>for industries (feathers, waste products), source of income and employment to<br>people compare to other domestic animals (Avila 1985; Demehe, 2004).</p><p>Poultry<br>meat and eggs play a very useful role in protein production in Nigeria. They<br>are palatable and generally acceptable. This acceptability cuts across nearly<br>all cultural region boundaries in Nigeria. Poultry industry plays important<br>role in the development of Nigeria economy. Poultry production has become a<br>full time job for many Nigerians and significantly contribute to the Groose<br>National Product (GNP) (Umeh and Odo; 2002). Poultry products mainly meat and<br>eggs represent important food for improving the nutritional status particularly<br>of the most vulnerable populations-children and pregnant women. Poultry<br>production is an important part of farming in many parts of the world. The<br>major attracting factor in poultry production is probably the tendency of<br>providing a fairly rapid return on capital (Abdulkali; 2002).</p><p>The<br>poultry industry in Nigeria has recorded considerable expansion in recent time<br>(FAO, 2000). For example, the creation of AkwaIbom State in 1987 and the<br>increased activities of oil and gas companies in the area with the resultant<br>improvement in the demand for animal protein especially in the form of poultry<br>products. This has led to the establishment of poultry farms which are located<br>in Uyo agricultural zone of the state. While overall national increase in<br>poultry production has probably triggered off vigorous research into<br>alternative and cheaper feed resources urgently needed to sustain such growth:<br>there is the need to continually focus attention on the health of the animals<br>in other to realize the full potential of the industry (Fasami; 1990).</p><p>Poultry<br>diseases remain one of the major threats to boosting poultry production in<br>Nigeria (Halle et al., 1998; Laseinde, 2002). Poultry diseases continue to play<br>major central role in hampering its development (FAO, 1998; Rushton et al,<br>1999) &nbsp;The impact of diseases on animal agriculture is typically assessed<br>in quantitative terms. In poultry industry examples of these terms include lost<br>revenues, costs of vaccination/prevention, eradication decontamination and<br>restocking. These have been referred to as a negative input (Unrusfield, 1995).<br>In Nigeria, diseases are among the major factors that hinder poultry<br>development (Alanargot, 1987; Alemu, 1995).</p><p>A<br>lot of losses in poultry have been linked to diseases causing agents such as<br>viruses, bacteria and parasites. It has been estimated that more than 750<br>million chicken, guinea fowls and duckling in Africa die each year as a result<br>of various infections (Sonaiya 1990). Although somewhat in birds parasitic has<br>been achieved by commercial production system mostly due to improved housing<br>hygiene and management practices, the prevalence of infectious diseases is<br>still very rampant (Pandry et at: 1992). Nigeria has a comparatively well<br>developed poultry industry for West African Nation.</p><p>Apantaku<br>(2006) described this trend to the low level of poultry production in<br>comparison to the level of poultry technologies being generated by Nigerian<br>poultry researchers. The prevailing situation became worsen in 2006 by the<br>reported outbreak of highly pathogenic and viral diseases like Avian influenza,<br>Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease and coccidiosis. Obayelu (2007)<br>reports that the diseases outbreak led many poultry farmer into psychological<br>breakdown due to losses incurred and also affected animal protein intake of a<br>large sector of Nigeria population.</p><p>Major<br>limitations confronting the industry are numerous. The problems confronting the<br>poultry industry in Nigeria include disease, low egg production, poor chick<br>quality, poor weight gain, lack of capital, management problems etc (Van et<br>al.; 1995; Apantaku et al; 1998; Ojo; 2003). Other problems include high cost<br>of drugs and equipment such as battery cases, high cost of feeding, increasing<br>cost of medications, marketing and lack of storage facilities as well as<br>unfriendly government policy and finance. Sources of economic losses in poultry<br>include lack of technical know-how, poor quality feed, poor housing,<br>mismanagement and of great significance, disease outbreak which had received<br>tremendous attention (Adekumisi et al; 1996; Torimiiro et. al., 2002).</p><p>Despite<br>the economic significance of the diseases to the commercial and small scale<br>poultry producers in the country, no substantial research has been done to asses<br>its economic losses. With the increasing interest in poultry production<br>evidenced by the proliferation in poultry farms, it is pertinent to continually<br>evaluate the prevalence rate and management issues associated with common<br>poultry disease such as Avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious<br>bursal disease and coccidiosis.</p><p><b>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>Statement of the Problem</b></p><p>The<br>incidence of poultry diseases in Nigeria has led many poultry farmers into<br>psychological breakdown due to losses incurred. Poultry diseases has a gross<br>attack rate on commercial poultry production. Culling birds in order to<br>eradicate and control the spread of the diseases has negatively affected the<br>livelihoods of all classes of poultry owners and producers. Such an impact is<br>most serious on the smaller family producer and commercial producer whom<br>poultry production is their sole of income generation. Effects of poultry<br>diseases on the economy. Where market is lost through the reduced rate to<br>export, restriction of movement of birds and the closing of some domestic<br>markets is especially the constraint which affect the income generating ability<br>of smaller producers in the zone (Mettzer et al., 1999). The non-consumption of<br>poultry meat as well as its products has also affected animal protein intake in<br>the large sector of the population. The most pronounced affect is the sharp<br>decline in demand as people avoided eating and demanding for poultry product<br>out of fear of being infected (WHO, 2004a). The survivability of poultry<br>industry in Nigeria is very low due to poor management techniques embarked upon<br>by rural poultry farmers, and outbreak of seasonally defendant diseases that<br>can account for high chick losses and mortality.</p><p><b>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>Purpose of the Study</b></p><p>The<br>study is aimed at examining the prevalence rate of poultry diseases and<br>mortality of flock in the study area. Specifically the study seeks the<br>following objectives.</p><p>1. &nbsp; To<br>determine the prevalence rate of Avian influence and its mortality rate on<br>poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.</p><p>2. &nbsp; To<br>determine the prevalence rate of Newcastle Disease and it mortality rate on<br>poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.</p><p>3. &nbsp; To<br>determine the prevalence rate of infectious Bursal disease and its mortality<br>rate on poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.</p><p>4. &nbsp; To<br>determine the prevalence rate of coccidiosis and its mortality rate on poultry<br>in Uyo Local Government Area.</p><p><b>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp; <br></b><b>&nbsp; &nbsp; Research Hypotheses</b></p><p><b>H0:</b>the<br>prevalence rate of Avian influence does not have any effect on mortality rate<br>on poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.</p><p><b>H1:</b>the<br>prevalence rate of Avian influence does have effect on mortality rate on<br>poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.</p><p><b>H02:</b>prevalence<br>rate of Newcastle Disease does not have any impact on mortality rate on poultry<br>in Uyo Local Government Area</p><p><b>H2: </b>prevalence<br>rate of Newcastle Disease does have impact on mortality rate on poultry in Uyo<br>Local Government Area</p><p><b>1.5 &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>Significance of the Study</b></p><p>1. &nbsp; The<br>finding of this study will motivate the farmer to produce quality and disease<br>free products capable of meeting the nutritional requirement of address the<br>problems of malnutrition, food insecurity low income and poverty as a whole.</p><p>2. &nbsp; Nigerian<br>policy makers and Animal Health Professionals will benefit from the study as<br>the studies will expose them to the cause of major epidermis seen each year<br>resulting in death of many birds, and this knowledge will enable more precise<br>disease control planning.</p><p>3. &nbsp; The<br>study will provide valuable data to the scientist for epidemiogical studies<br>both logically throughout Nigeria through collaboration. The data will also<br>assist them with a role informing animal health and disease control policy.</p><p>4. &nbsp; The<br>study will be significant in the training of farmers on improve livestock<br>breeds for the gradual upgrading of local breeds.</p><p>5. &nbsp; This<br>study will help to increase productivity of poultry farms which in turn will<br>create job opportunity to the community and reduce the cost of production. Also<br>the more progressive or productive the poultry farm is, the more produce will<br>be supplied to the market for distribution.</p><p>6. &nbsp; The<br>study will help the community dwellers and those practicing poultry on<br>subsistence level in Uyo Local Government Area by teaching them poultry<br>management practices and approaches which can be used to achieve improved<br>performance in their business.</p><p><b>1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>The<br>scope of the study covers the prevalence of poultry disease and its mortality<br>rate; in the cause of the study, there were factors which militate against the<br>scope of the study</p><p><b>a) &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL:</b>&nbsp;The research<br>material &nbsp; &nbsp; available to the researcher<br>is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.</p><p><b>b) &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>TIME:</b>&nbsp;The time frame allocated to the study does<br>not enhance wider &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; coverage as the<br>researcher has to combine other academic activities &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; and examinations with the study.</p><p><b>c) &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>FINANCE</b>: The finance available for the research<br>work does not &nbsp; &nbsp; allow for wider<br>coverage as resources are very limited as the &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; researcher has other academic bills to<br>cover.</p><p><b>1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS</b></p><p><b>Coccidiosis</b></p><p>Coccidiosis is a parasitic<br>disease of the intestinal tract of animals caused by coccidian protozoa. The<br>disease spreads from one animal to another by contact with infected feces or<br>ingestion of infected tissue. Diarrhea, which may become bloody in severe<br>cases, is the primary symptom.</p><p><b>Poultry</b></p><p>Poultry<br>are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their<br>feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder<br>Galloanserae, especially the order Galliformes</p><p><b>Mortality</b></p><p>Mortality is the state of being<br>mortal, or susceptible to death;<br>the opposite of immortality.</p><p><b>1.8 &nbsp; <br></b><b>ORGANIZATION<br>OF THE STUDY</b></p><p>This<br>research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows<br>Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview,<br>of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research<br>question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms<br>and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical<br>framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature.<br>Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the<br>study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and<br>presentation of finding. Chapter five<br>gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.</p> <br><p></p>