Rural Poultry Populations and Strains in Two Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

A study was conducted in Plateau State of Nigeria which has two distinct agro-ecological zones; a humid sub-temperate region in the North and a sub-humid hotter region that is part of the Northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria in the South. A sample of 1240 farmers from two Local Governments in each of the two ecological zones were surveyed to assess the poultry population and strains of birds as a prelude to the introduction of interventions for control of Newcastle Disease and other programs for improving rural poultry productivity. Results showed that the farmers owned an average of 20 chickens, 6 ducks, 0.3 turkeys, 1 pigeon and 1.2 guinea fowls per household. Each household reared two or more strains of chicken and most had different types of poultry in the same backyard. There were more Naked neck and long legged chickens in the hotter ecological zone but more Barred plumage strains in the cooler ecological zone.