Survey of disease status of chickens in some poultry farms in south-west Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of health status of chickens in poultry farms in some local government areas (LGA) of Ogun State was carried out to determine the common chicken disease. Structured interview guides were administered through stratified and random sampling in six LGAs of Ogun state, viz. Odeda, Ewekoro, Ifo, Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North LGA, respectively. A total of 80 respondents who were the owners of the Poultry Farms were successfully interviewed and data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics to establish prevalent chicken diseases, and Chi-square analysis to determine associations between socio-economic characteristics of respondents and disease status of their flock. Coccidiosis was the major cause of ill-health in flocks. Significant relationships were established as follows: access to extension services and flock size (p=0.001), extension services and feeding of birds (p=0.001), extension services and shelter (p=0.003), extension services and healthcare (p=0.006), extension services and total sick (p=0.001), extension services and action on sick (p=0.044), access to veterinary services and flock size (p=0.003), veterinary services and feeding (p=<0.001), veterinary services and sheltering (p<0.001), veterinary services and healthcare (p<0.001), veterinary services and action on sick birds (p<0.001). It was concluded that socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area could influence health status of chickens.

Key words: Disease surveillance, poultry management, socio-economic characteristics.