Poultry production is a major component of the livestock sector in Nigeria and continues to expand rapidly; however, it is still constrained by low productivity. Despite its declining contribution to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, agriculture continues to be the most important sector of the Nigerian economy; it provides employment and an estimated 65% of Nigerians depend on agriculture for their livelihood [1]. Nigeria’s poultry population of nearly 200 million birds [2] makes poultry production the most commercialised agricultural livestock sector in the country [3].
Poultry diseases negatively affect the poultry industry and alongside effective prevention measures, the availability and access to appropriate preventive and treatment options is critical to reducing productivity and economic losses. However, there are limited data available on pharmaceutical products used for disease prevention and treatment on commercial poultry farms in Nigeria. Data on the overall pharmaceutical products and the challenges related to pharmaceutical product availability and use experience of poultry farmers are lacking. In addition, despite the size of the poultry sector in Nigeria, data on poultry products produced on the farm, farm costs, and revenue are also still limited. Together, these data would be useful to the poultry industry and policy makers in identifying appropriate interventions and in guiding decisions and policy aimed at improving poultry productivity.
To improve our understanding of poultry production (including products generated on farm for revenue and related farm costs), pharmaceutical product use, and the related challenges on commercial poultry farms in Kano and Oyo states of Nigeria, a farm survey was conducted to provide a baseline assessment of poultry production (products generated, farm costs, and revenue), pharmaceutical use, and related challenges faced by farmers on 44 commercial poultry farms in Oyo and Kano states of Nigeria.
The farms included in this study were located in Oyo (in the southwest geopolitical zone) and Kano (in the northcentral geopolitical zone) states in Nigeria. These states were selected using purposive sampling approach; a map showing the geographical location of the selected states and information on the state selection criteria have been described in detail elsewhere [8]. This study targeted poultry farms that reared birds for commercial purposes, including broilers, layers, and breeders.
Secret Hacks Poultry Masters Use For Chickens To Lay More Eggs | Poultry Farming Nigeria
The current study was a cross-sectional survey amongst commercial poultry farms that collected baseline data (between 13 May 2019, and 8 June 2019) on poultry production (including products generated on farm for revenue and related farm costs), pharmaceutical product use and the related challenges experienced by these farmers. In total, 44 farms were randomly selected (16 in Oyo and 28 in Kano) using probability-proportional-to-size sampling, where the number of farms selected in each state were proportionate to the number of farms present in the state. Detailed information about the sampling approach and the sample size calculation for the farms has been provided elsewhere [8].
A questionnaire (Questionnaire S1) was used to collect relevant data on tablet computers using Qualtrics software (Version: March 2020; Provo, UT, USA). Data on the following parameters were collected: farm characteristics, production, management/husbandry practices, general use of pharmaceutical products on-farm, farm-level financial costs and revenue, and the challenges faced. All questions are presented in tables, figures, or Supplementary Data.
Read also: Starting a Poultry Business
Survey results were downloaded to Microsoft Excel (MSO: 16.0.14131.20358) and data were cleaned. Descriptive statistics were performed to summarise the data for the parameters related to poultry production, farm costs and revenue, pharmaceutical product use, and the associated challenges.
Key Findings
A total of 44 farms participated in this study, including 28 in Kano state and 16 in Oyo state. One farm in Kano had an incomplete dataset because data could not be retrieved from the tablet, and it was therefore excluded from the data analysis. Briefly, the study respondents were mostly farm owners (29/43; 67.4%) or farm managers (16/43; 37.2%), male (30/42; 71.4%), and most were aged between 46-60 years (20/42; 47.6%) or between 35-45 years (12/42; 28.6%). Respondent demographics and farm information are presented in Table S1. Over a third (16/43; 37.2%) of respondents had 11-20 years’ experience in poultry farming and 27.9% (12/43) had between 6-10 years of experience. At the time of the study visit and survey administration, most participating farms kept layers only (21/43; 48.8%), followed by layers and broilers (12/43; 27.9%), and broilers only (9/43; 20.9%).
The three most frequently reported poultry products obtained and sold to generate income by respondents in Oyo and Kano were live spent layers (sold as live birds at the end of production cycle) (37/43; 86.1%), followed by eggs (35/43; 81.4%), and used beddings (34/43; 79.1%). In Kano, the product most frequently sold to generate income was used beddings (23/43; 85.2%), whereas the top product in Oyo was live spent layers (15/17; 93.7%). All types of poultry farm products sold to generate revenue in total and by state are illustrated in Figure 1. Products obtained from poultry farms and sold by farmers to generate revenue (n = 43). Respondents selected all applicable products sold; percentages in total and by state do not add up to 100%. Other (n = 9) includes manure and sacks (n = 1), imported cages (n = 1), used feed bags (n = 6), and point of lay pullets (at 14 to 16 weeks) (n = 1). PS, parent stock.
On layer only farms, the most reported revenue generating poultry products were live spent layers (21/21; 100%), eggs (20/21; 95.2%) and used beddings (17/21; 91.0%). On broiler only farms, live ready-weight broilers (8/9; 88.9%), used beddings (6/9; 66.7%) and whole fresh carcasses (4/9; 44.4%) were the most sold products for revenue. On mixed (layer and broiler) farms, live spent layers (12/12; 100%), eggs (12/12; 100%), and used beddings (11/12; 91.7%) were mostly reported as products sold for revenue.
Respondents were asked to rank all poultry farm products sold to generate revenue (as specified above) from most to least important with regards to generating income. The products that were most consistently ranked within the top three were broiler chicks (3/3; 100.0%), eggs (29/35; 82.9%), live spent layers (25/37; 67.6%) and live ready-weight broilers (15/23; 65.2%). Products sold by farmers ranked on perceived revenue generated. First rank denotes the top revenue generating product (i.e., rank 1, 2 or 3). Low rank (i.e., rank 4, 5, 6) denotes a lower revenue generating product. PS, parent stock.
Read also: Comprehensive Poultry Design
On layer only farms, eggs (17/20; 85.0%), live spent layers (16/21; 76.2%) and point-of-lay pullets (5/8; 62.5%) were the poultry products most ranked in the top three money-generating products. On broiler only farms, the products sold that were most often ranked in the top three were broiler chicks (1/1; 100%), eggs (3/3; 100%), point-of-lay pullets (1/1; 100%) and used beddings (5/6; 83.3%). On mixed farms, parent stock (PS) eggs (1/1; 100%), broiler chicks (1/1; 100%), and eggs (9/12; 75.0%) were the poultry products most often ranked in the top three for generating money.
Twelve respondents (12/43; 27.9%) reported processing farm waste into manure for crops, while 10/43 (23.3%) operated a private feed mill to produce feed for on-farm use. Additionally, one respondent (2.3%) operated a commercial feed mill, and two respondents (4.7%) had a slaughterhouse onsite.
Overall, the reported median number of broiler chicks at the beginning of the previous production cycle was 500 (min = 100, max = 5000, n = 15). Overall, the reported median number of layer chicks at the beginning of the previous production cycle was 4000 (min = 300, max = 26,000, n = 35). As with the results on broiler chicks, Oyo respondents reported a higher median number of layer chicks (median = 4377, min = 1500, max = 12,960, n = 13) than Kano (median = 3250, min = 300, max = 26,000, n = 22). In total, the reported median number of PS chicks at the beginning of the previous production cycle was 5500 (min = 4000, max = 7000, n = 2); these were only reported in Oyo. Cockerel chicks were also kept in both Oyo and Kano farms (median = 100, min = 20, max = 500, n = 5), but a higher median number was reported in Kano (median = 150, min = 50, max = 500, n = 4) compared to Oyo (median = 20, min = 20, max = 20, n = 1) (Table S2).
Across both states, the reported median cost of one-day old broiler, layer, and cockerel chicks purchased for raising on farm in the previous production cycle was 270 Nigerian Naira (NGN) (min = 120, max = 920, n = 15), 200 NGN (min = 120, max = 65,000, n = 31), and 30 NGN (min = 25, max = 1000, n = 5), respectively ( 1 US dollar = 411.400 NGN at the time of writing in August 2021) (Table S3).
Only two farms reported having hatcheries on site and both were located in Oyo. Both farms hatched 10,000 broiler chicks each, while on one of the two farms, the number of pullet (layer) chicks hatched was 15,000 and the number of cockerel chicks hatched was 10,000 (Table S4). Of the 41 farms that did not own a hatchery on site or in another location, almost all (39/41; 90.8%) sourced their DOCs (broiler and layer chicks) from commercial producers. Two (4.7%) respondents did not specify the source of chicks.
Read also: Historical Perspective on Farmer's Day
Overall, the reported median age of broiler birds at slaughter weight in the previous production cycle was 6.5 weeks (min = 5, max = 10, n = 16) (Table 1). In total, the median number of reported dead broiler birds on the farms in the previous production cycle was 50 birds (min = 7 birds, max = 2800, n = 16); mortality was higher in Oyo by number of birds (median = 85, min = 7, max = 180, n = 5) compared to Kano (median = 30, min = 10, max = 2800, n = 11) (Table 1). The number of unproductive broiler birds culled from the farms in Oyo and Kano are shown in Table S5.
Overall, the median reported length of the production cycle of layer birds was 80 weeks (min = 20, max = 130, n = 31), higher in the Oyo birds (median = 88, min = 63, max = 114, n = 13) than in the Kano birds (median = 72, min = 20, max = 130, n = 18). The median number of spent-layers or off-layer birds sold for slaughter in Oyo and Kano was 2440 birds (min = 80, max = 51,000, n = 32); 3750 birds (min = 800, max = 14,250, n = 13) in Oyo, and 2100 birds (min = 80, max = 51,000, n = 19) in Kano (p = 0.081). The reported median number of dead layer birds in the previous production cycle in Oyo and Kano was 290 birds (min = 7, max = 5000, n = 32). The reported mortality was slightly lower in Oyo (median = 278, min = 7, max = 3900, n = 13) than in Kano (median = 340, min = 10, max = 5000, n = 19). The number of unproductive layer birds culled from the farm are shown in Table S5.
Overall, respondents in Oyo and Kano reported the following estimated median costs related to farm management during the previous production cycle: 260,000 NGN (min = 32,000, max = 1650,000, n = 11) for feeding broiler birds, 4270,500 NGN (min = 1379,000, max = 49,275,000, n = 11) for feeding layer birds, 75,000 NGN (min = 30, max = 1680,000, n = 15) on antibiotic treatments, 56,000 NGN on vaccination programmes (min = 3200, max = 750,000, n = 21), 13,500 NGN (min = 2000, max = 364,000, n = 32) to maintain biosecurity on farm, 20,000 NGN (min = 2000, max = 10,800,000, n = 27) on litter management, and 540,000 NGN (min = 20,000, max = 18,000,000, n = 39) on staff wages and benefits (Table 3).
All farms in this study reported vaccinating their birds in the previous production cycle against Newcastle disease (ND), infectious bursal disease (IBD), and fowl pox. The estimated median costs reported for vaccinating 1000 birds with the most administered vaccines ND, IBD and fowl pox during the previous production cycle were 2500 (min = 950, max = 26,200, n = 35), 1750 (min = 600, max = 5000, n = 32) and 2200 (min = 500, max = 8000, n = 27), respectively. The cost of ND vaccines per 1000 birds reported by Kano farmers was higher than that reported by Oyo farmers (median: 4900 vs 1000 NGN). Full details on vaccination costs are provided in Table S6, and more details regarding other vaccinations administered on these farms can be found in the related paper that examined baseline parameters on poultry health, management practices, and the related challenges [9].
All respondents but one (42/43, 97.7%) reported administering antibiotics during the previous production cycle. The three most frequently reported antibiotics were Enrofloxacin (Conflox: 23/42, 54.8%; Kenflox: 18/42, 42.9; Bioflox: 11/42, 26.2; Floxinol: 7/42, 16.7: Enrovet: 3/42, 7.1%: Enrocoli-Max: 2/42, 4.8%), Gentamicin (Doxygen: 27/42, 64.3: Centregent: 19/42, 45.2%; GenTylo: 13/42, 31.0%), and Tylosin (Tylosin: 25/42, 59.5%; GenTylo: 13/42, 31.0%) (Figure 3). On layer farms, the most used products were Tylosin (tylosin) (12/20; 60.0%), and Doxygen (doxycycline and gentamicin) (11/20; 55.0%), followed by Conflox (enrofloxacin) (9/20; 45.0%).
Overall, 40% of farms used feed additives (including toxin binders, minerals, and vitamins) and 12% used coccidiostats. Access to pharmaceutical products was a key challenge and appeared to disproportionally affect farmers in the northern part (Kano) of Nigeria. Study findings highlight the need for improved access to veterinary pharmaceuticals, particularly in the northern states. Other challenges included perceived antibiotic ineffectiveness, high cost of drugs, and long distances to pharmaceutical suppliers. Challenges related to vaccine use were unavailability, distance to the supplier, and health issues interfering with the vaccination schedule.
The majority of the medium- and large-scale poultry farms are located in the urban and peri-urban areas of southwest Nigeria, but the north has a larger share of small farmer holdings located in rural or peri-urban areas compared to the south [4].
Popular articles:
tags: #Nigeria
