Adoption of biosecurity for disease prevention and control by poultry farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the adoption of biosecurity for disease prevention and control by poultry farmers in Imo State. The objectives of study were to: ascertain the socio - economic characteristics of poultry farmers in Imo State; identify sources of informationon biosecurity measures adopted by poultry farmers for disease prevention and control in Imo State; ascertain biosecurity measures adopted by poultry farmers for disease prevention and control in Imo State; determine factors influencing adoption of biosecurity practices. A research survey of 60 owners and managers of poultry farms was used. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select samples for the study and data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Logit regression). The study revealed that most of the poultry farmers in the study area were male and married and that these farmers were still intheiractiveandproductiveageand most of them were educated. Majority of the poultry farmers in the study area were micro and small scale farmers and have considerable experience in poultry production and are members of farmers’ groups with profit motive as their farming enterprise objective. Majority of the poultry farmers had training in livestock management and most of the respondents did not receive any extension visit for the past two years up to the date of data collection and that the practice of biosecurity in the study area is high. Farmers association, veterinary officers, Internet and researchers are the significant sources of information on biosecurity to the poultry farmers in the study area. Age, cooperative membership, experience in poultry farming, training, farm size, education and access to credit significantly influenced the adoption of biosecurity practices in the study area. Any increase in the level of these variables would increase the level of adoption of biosecurity practices for disease prevention and control in the study area. Based on the findings of the this study, it is recommended that aggressive sensitization of the poultry farmers through seminars, workshops and conferences by relevant authorities on the advantages of adoption of biosecurity measures in their farms and encouraging fellow farmers to do so.