Biosecurity Practices and their Benefit-Cost Implications in Poultry Farms in Enugu State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
A survey study was carried out to assess the biosecurity practices and evaluate their benefit cost implications in commercial poultry farms in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 152 poultry farms were selected through a stratified random sampling technique for assessment of biosecurity and management practices in Enugu State.
Thirty-four poultry farms (seventeen farms from those that adopted biosecurity measures and seventeen farms from those that did not adopt biosecurity measures) were further selected through a purposive sampling technique for the economic studies of biosecurity programs.
The data for the studies were collected through the use of structured questionnaire which were designed and validated, and were administered to the selected poultry farms. A non-participatory observation scheme and an in-depth oral interview for the non-literate respondents were also utilized in sourcing the data.
Biosecurity measures studied were fencing of poultry farm, netting of poultry houses, all in all out flock replacement program, quarantining of incoming birds, exclusion of other animal species from the poultry farm, rodent control measures.
Restriction of movement to and within the farm, use of rubber boots, use of hand gloves while handling sick birds, use of coveralls, use of foot-bath, hand washing after handling birds, disinfection of incoming vehicles, periodic fumigation of the farm.
Sanitization of drinking water for the birds, galvanized roofing, availability of drainage systems, citing farms away from river or water- ways and routine vaccination.
Standard scoring pattern was used to assess the level of compliance with the biosecurity measures by the poultry farmers. Gross margin analysis was used to determine the level of profitability between poultry farms that complied with biosecurity measures and those that did not comply.
Incremental benefit-cost analysis was used to determine the benefit-cost ratio of biosecurity programs.
Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Chi-square (χ2) statistics was used to determine the association between the biosecurity measures and the different agricultural zones in Enugu State, farm sizes, types of birds reared, level of education attained by the farmers, mode of operation and years of farming experience.
There were significant associations (p < 0.05) between compliance to biosecurity measures and farm sizes (χ2 = 11.22; χ2 = 5.99), level of education attained by farmers (χ2cal. = 6.72; χ2 = 5.99), years of farming experience (χ2 = 24.56; χ2crit. = 3.84) and type of birds reared (χ2cal. = 8.25; χ2 = 7.81)).
The level of association was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in large scale farms compared to medium and small scale farms. The level of association was also significantly higher (p < 0.05) among more educated farmers compared to less educated and non-educated ones.
There was also significantly higher (p < 0.05) level of association in favour of experienced farmers than the less experienced ones. Also, there was a significantly higher (p < 0.05) level of association in favour of layer farms compared to farms that rear broilers and cockerels.
There was however, no significant (p > 0.05) association between compliance to biosecurity measures and the agricultural zones surveyed (χ2cal. = 0.44; χ2crit. = 5.99) and modes of operation (χ2 = 2.56; χ2 = 3.84). Broiler farms that complied with biosecurity measures had higher gross margin than those that did not comply.
The costs of biosecurity programs were N52.56 and N74.21 per matured broiler (at eight weeks) and point of lay pullet respectively. The percentage of eggs laid during the peak of laying periods was higher among layers farms that complied with biosecurity measures.
An incremental benefit-cost ratio of 7.2 among broiler farms showed that biosecurity programs were cost effective. The implication is that biosecurity can contribute significantly to the success and profitability of poultry farming.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Page
Title Page – – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration Page – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification Page – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication Page – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – – – v
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – – vi
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – xi
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction – – – – – – – 1
1.1 Background of the Study – – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the problems – – – – – – – 3
1.3 Research questions – – – – – – – – 4
1.4 Objective of the Study – – – – – – – – 4
1.5 Significance of the study – – – – – – – 5
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review – – – – – – 6
2.1 Definitions – – – – – – – – – 6
2.2 Components of biosecurity plan – – – – – – 7
2.2.1 Isolation – – – – – – – – – 7
2.2.2 Traffic Control – – – – – – – – 7
2.2.3 Sanitation – – – – – – – – – 8
2.3 Design and location of poultry farms to promote biosecurity – – 8
2.4 Rodent control in poultry farms – – – – – – 11
2.4.1 Anticoagulant Rodenticides – – – – – – – 12
2.4.1.1 First generation anticoagulants – – – – – – 12
2.4.1.2 Second generation anticoagulants – – – – – – 13
2.4.1.3 Anticoagulant bait failure – – – – – – – 13
2.4.2 Non anticoagulant Rodenticide – – – – – – 14
2.5 Decontamination and disinfection of poultry houses – – – 16
2.5.1 Classification of disinfectants – – – – – – – 16
2.5.2 Selection of disinfectants – – – – – – – 18
2.6 Vaccination of poultry flocks – – – – – – 19
2.6.1 Types of Vaccines – – – – – – – – 19
2.6.2 Sources of vaccines to the Nigerian poultry industry – – – 21
2.6.3 Methods of vaccine administration – – – – – – 21
2.6.4 Vaccination programs for poultry flocks – – – – – 23
2.6.5 Vaccination failures – – – – – – – – 25
2.7 Preventive medication – – – – – – – 25
2.8 Sources of infection to poultry flocks – – – – – 28
2.8.1 Some important feed borne diseases of poultry – – – – 28
2.8.2 Water borne diseases of poultry – – – – – – 34
2.9 Feed and water treatment – – – – – – – 34
2.10 Biosecurity in the Hatcheries – – – – – – – 38
2.11 The role of backyard and free range flocks in disease dissemination – 40
2.12 Economics of animal disease prevention – – – – – 41
2.12.1 Economic methods commonly applied for disease control decision – 43
2.12.1.1 Benefit-Cost Analysis – – – – – – – 43
2.12.1.2. Incremental Benefit-Cost Ratio – – – – – – 44
2.12.1.3 Gross Margin Analysis – – – – – – – 45
2.12.2 Data requirements for Economic assessment of disease control programs – 45
2.13 Biosecurity in slaughter houses – – – – – – 46
CHAPTER THREE: Materials and Methods – – – – – 48
3.1 Study Area – – – – – – – – – 48
3.2 Study Design – – – – – – – – – 49
3.3 Study Population – – – – – – – – 49
3.4 Sampling Procedure – – – – – – – – 49
3.5 Data collection – – – – – – – – 50
3.6 Assessment of the level of compliance with biosecurity measures – – 50
3.7 Data Analysis and presentation – – – – – – 51
CHAPTER FOUR: Result – – – – – – – – 52
4.1 Management systems and practices – – – – – – 52
4.2 Farmer’s responses on recommended biosecurity measures – – – 55
4.3 Vaccination practices adopted by poultry farmers in Enugu State – – 58
4.4 Methods of handling sick birds and methods of disposing dead birds in poultry farms surveyed in Enugu State 60
4.5 Methods of processing broilers in the surveyed poultry farms in Enugu State – 62
4.6 Biosecurity practices adopted by poultry farmers in Enugu State during products’ sales – – – 64
4.7 Association between biosecurity measures and Agricultural zones surveyed, Farm sizes, Types of birds reared, Level of education attained by the farmers, Mode of farming operation and years of farming experience – – 66
4.8 Patterns of disease outbreak in the surveyed poultry farms in Enugu State – 68
4.9 Cost structure and performance evaluation in poultry farms surveyed – 72
4.10 Cost of biosecurity programs in surveyed poultry farms in Enugu State – 74
4.11 Incremental Benefit-Cost Ratio of biosecurity programs In surveyed poultry farms – – – – – – – 76
CHAPTER FIVE: Discussion, Recommendation and Conclusion – – 77
5.1 Discussion – – – – – – – – – 77
5.2 Recommendation – – – – – – – – 84
5.3 Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 85
References – – – – – – – – – 86
Appendices – – – – – – – – – 95
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Agriculture continues to be an important sector of the Nigerian economy in terms of provision of employment (Adebayo and Adeola, 2005; Okonkwo and Akubuo, 2001) and food security.
About 65% of Nigerians are estimated to depend on agriculture for their livelihood while 34.8% of the non-oil foreign exchange earnings are contributed by the agricultural sector. The poultry sub-sector is the most commercialized of all the sub- sectors of the Nigeria’s agriculture (RIM, 1992).
The types of poultry that are commonly reared in Nigeria are chickens, ducks, guinea fowls, turkey, pigeons and ostrich. Chickens are however of the most economic importance.
In Enugu State and indeed Nigeria, poultry is one of the major sources of animal protein. The need for continuous supply of this animal protein to the citizenry, through sound livestock and poultry health delivery should however be emphasized.
Diseases within the farm and the environment are major factors that could truncate the quantitative and qualitative supplies of animal protein.
Appropriate biosecurity measures, coupled with good management practices are important to prevent the introduction and spread of both endemic and epidemic infections in flocks (Barcelo and Marco, 1998; Amass and Clark, 1999).
The components of biosecurity which include isolation, traffic control and sanitation can directly affect productivity and profitability.
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