POULTRY FARMERS DISPOSITION TO BIOSEURITY MEASURES AGAINST AVIANEPIDEMAL THREAT IN COMMERCIAL POULTRY PRODUCTION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Regular application of effective biosecurity measures is very essential in preventing and controlling the spread of disease and infections in commercial poultry production. Hence, the need to understand that specific epidemal threats determine the biosecurity measures to be adopted by farmers.This study examined the poultry farmers’ disposition to biosecurity measures against avian epidemal threat in commercial poultry production in Ogun State, Nigeria. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 286 respondents for the study. Data were collected on socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; economic impact of avian epidemal threat experienced; biosecurity measures used in managing the incidence of avian diseases and poultry farmers’ disposition to biosecurity measures in the study area using a structured questionnaire. Chi square and descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation) were used to analyse the data. The mean age and years of experience with poultry were 46.0 and 18.0 years, respectively, and the results indicate that 51.1% of the respondents had completed tertiary education. 54.4% of respondents utilised a manual watering system, whereas the majority (85.2%) employed an intensive management system. The respondents cited radio/television (83.3%), family and friends (84.4%), and agricultural extension field demonstration (98.9%) as their primary sources of information on managing chicken production.The common viral epidemal threats to profitable and sustainable poultry production were hemorrhagic enteritis (x̄ = 2.74) and swollen head syndrome (x̄ = 2.12) and bacteria diseases were tuberculosis (x̄ = 2.45) and paratyphoid infections (x̄ = 2.42) while guinea worm (x̄ = 2.47) and Giardiasis (x̄ = 2.42) were parasitic diseases. The economic effect of epidemal threats on commercial poultry production were stunted growth (x ̅=3.77), high mortality rate of the birds (x ̅=3.74) and loss of income (x ̅=3.72). Most (79.3%) of the respondents reported moderate impact of epidemal threats in poultry production. The biosecurity measures mostly used by the respondents to manage incidences of poultry diseases were bird culling (x ̅=3.61), self-administration of medication (x ̅=3.52) and limitation of non-essential traffic on the farm (x ̅=3.42).Also, 71.1% of the respondents had low utilization of biosecurity measures against avian epidemal threats. The disposition of poultry farmers to biosecurity measures was reduction in the likelihood of virus introduction into the flock (x̄ = 4.11) and less expenses for veterinary services (x̄ = 3.64). Furthermore, 55.2% of the respondents had moderate disposition to biosecurity measures. The chi square results reveal significant (p<0.05) association between educational level (χ2= 9.399), style of rearing (χ2= 11.298) and disposition of poultry farmers to biosecurity measures. The study concluded that the farmers are favourably disposed to the use of biosecurity measures to mitigate the effects of avian epidemial threats in the study area. Therefore, poultry farmers should be regularly trained on the use of biosecurity measures for sustainable and profitable poultry production.