An assessment of some poultry management practices and disease recognition by poultry farmers in Maiduguri arid zone, Nigeria

The poultry industry in Nigeria constitutes an important agricultural enterprise to the nation, contributing substantially to the nationʹs Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This paper will assess certain poultry management practices and disease recognition by poultry farmers in Maiduguri in the Borno State of Nigeria, with the view of improving poultry production in this part of the country. The assessment was carried out by questionnaire, which sought information on poultry management systems, flock size, housing, vaccination, use of antibiotics and disease recognition. Two hundred and fifty copies of the questionnaire were distributed to poultry farmers in Maiduguri via day-old-chick sellers, poultry-feed sellers, and staff of poultry units at the State Veterinary and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospitals. The results of the questionnaire showed that small-holder farmers made up the majority of producer (24.3%), whilst farmers who maintained flock size of greater than 500 chickens were in the minority (13.3%). Most of the farmers (82.7%: N = 173) in Maiduguri use deep litter rearing systems. Half zinc, half wire mesh open-sided poultry houses formed the greater proportion (47.7%) of poultry housing maintained by poultry farmers in the study area. Furthermore, non-adherence to full vaccination schedules (56.7%) and use of multiple antibiotics (72.3%) for chemoprophylaxis in poultry were common. Diarrhoea (39.9%), ruffled feathers (31.8%) and respiratory rales/panting (27.2%) were common signs observed by poultry farmers as part of their disease recognition. The poultry industry in Maiduguri still faces serious constraints due to management