Project Abstract

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> <br><p></p>