ABSTRACT
Rural farmers in Southeast Nigeria are still grappling with production of indigenous chicken despite the development and dissemination of improved management practices for the enterprise in the area. Thus a study which examined the utilization of improved management practices for indigenous chicken production in South East Nigeria was conceived and carried out. The specific objectives of the study included among others to ascertain types of production system used by respondents; examine the level of production of indigenous chicken kept by rural farmers in the area; ascertain respondents awareness of improved management practices for indigenous chicken productions among rural farmers in the area; ascertain farmers perceived attributes of indigenous chicken management practices in the study area. Total of 360 respondents were selected across the zone through purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques for the study. Structured questionnaire were used to obtain responses from the local chicken farmers who were the target respondents. Data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics (such as frequency counts, percentages, mean etc.) as well as ordinary least square of multiple regression as well as analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the study revealed that the larger proportion of indigenous farmers were female (76.7%) with mean age of 42years. Majority of the respondents were married (66.6%), attained secondary and above (70.6%), were full-time farmers (55.3%), had mean monthly income of N37254.17. /The result indicated that though majority of the respondents were aware of the improved management practices for indigenous chicken production in the study area, yet only use of three management practices namely brooding practices ( =3.09) housing practice ( =3.38) feeding practices ( =3.26) were highly in use by the farmers. The results of hypotheses testing showed that stock size (5.852***), monthly income (1.955**) had significant positive effects on extent of farmers’ use of improved management practices for indigenous chicken production in the study area in the study area. However, farmers’ age (t-2.108**) and household size (t-3.398***) had negative relationships with their use of improved management practices from indigenous chicken production in the study area. Also, the ANOVA result at p<0.05 shows that there was a significant difference in the level of use of improved indigenous chicken production technology across the states of Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo. Further results from DMRT confirmed that use of the improved practices among farmers in Anambra was significantly higher than in Imo and Ebonyi States. However, there was no significant difference in farmers’ use of the improved management practices for indigenous chicken production in Imo and Ebonyi States. In view of the forgoing, it is thus recommended that Government agencies (ADP and Research Institutes) responsible for promoting technologies should organize programmes for training of indigenous chicken farmers and intending ones in the area of Best practices for chicken production in order to increase their level of production (stock size. Also Extension agents should encourage farmers to register with farmers’ co-operative society to enable them have access to bank facility (credit), inputs, grants from government or agency especially in Anambra State and Imo State where there is high respondents that were not members of social group which might be the cause of high percentage of their problem in aspect of input and credit unavailability. Finally, farmers should encourage practicing intensive system of production, proper selection of birds for cross breeding exotic breed/improved local strain to achieve good weight gain and high performance in production.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Declaration iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vii
List of Tables xi
List of Figures xii
Abstract xiv
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 5
1.3 Research
Questions 7
1.4 Objectives
of the Study 8
1.5 Hypotheses
of the Study 9
1.6 Significance
of the Study 9
1.7 Scope
of the Study 11
1.8 Definition
of Operational Terms 11
1.9 Limitation
of the Study 13
CHAPTER
2: LITERATURE
REVIEW 14
2.1. Conceptual
Review 14
2.1 Overview
of Agricultural and Livestock Development in Nigeria 14
2.1.1 Socio-economic
attributes of livestock production 14
2.1.2
Characterization of the Nigerian indigenous chicken 19
2.1.3
Importance of indigenous chicken
production 25
2.1.4 Role
of rural women in village chicken production and ownership 31
2.1.5 Management and production system of indigenous chicken in
developing country. 33
2.1.6 Gender analysis and livestock production 35
2.1.7. Marketing of local chickens in developing
country 39
2.1.8. Poultry diseases 41
2.1.9 Technology transfer
in agriculture 43
2.1.10 Process of adoption
of innovations by rural farmers 45
2.1.11 Agricultural
communication process 47
2.1.12 Poultry diseases 49
2.1.13 Common types of
poultry diseases 50
2.1.13.1 Newcastle disease. 50
2.1.13.2 Fowl pox diseases 53
2.1.13.3 Fowl cholera diseases 54
2.1.13.4 Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) 54
2.1.13.5 Fowl typhoid or pullorum diseases 56
2.1.13.6 Marek’s disease 57
2.1.13.7Coccidiosis disease 57
2.1.14 External parasites 60
2.1.15 Nutritional
deficiency diseases of poultry 15
2.1.16 Controlling diseases
in scavenging flocks (indigenous chickens) 63
2.2. Empirical
Studies on Indigenous Production in Nigeria 66
2.3 Theoretical
Framework 69
2.3.1 Technology
theory 69
2.3.2. Cultural
lag theory. 70
2.3.3 Theory
of perceived attribute 71
2.3.4. Modernization
theory 72
2.4 Conceptual
framework 75
2.4.1 Independent
variable 75
2.4.2 Dependent
variable 75
2.4.3 Intervening
variables 76
2.4.4 Moderating
variables 76
CHAPTER
3 METHODOLOGY 79
3.1 Study Area 79
3.2 Population
of the Study. 81
3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure 81
3.4 Data Collection 81
3.5 Validity of Instrument 82
3.6 Test
of Reliability 82
3.7 Data Analysis 82
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
90
4.1 Socio-economic Characteristic of
Respondents 90
4.1.1 Sex 90
4.1.2 Age 92
4.1.3
Marital status 92
4.1.4 Level
of education 93
4.1.5 Occupational
status 94
4.1.6 Farming
experience (years) 96
4.1.7 Religion 96
4.1.8 Household
size 96
4.1.9 Monthly
income (N) 97
4.1.10 Cooperative membership 97
4.1.11 Access to credit 98
4.1.12 Extension contact 99
4.1.13 Reasons for keeping birds 99
4.2 System
of Production Used 100
4.3 Level
of Production of Indigenous Chicken 101
4.4 Farmers’
Awareness of Improved Management Practices
for Indigenous 102
4.5 Extent of Use of Improved Management
Practices for Indigenous Chicken
Production
in South- East, Nigeria 105
4.6 Farmers’ Perceived Attributes of the
Technologies 109
4.7 Problems
Affecting Utilization of Improved Management Practices for
Indigenous
Chicken Production 113
4.8 Test of Hypothesis 115
4.8.1 Test of
hypothesis 1 115
4.9 Hypothesis 2: There is no Significant
Difference in the Extent of Use of Improved
Management Practices for Indigenous Chicken Production
Among
the States. 118
4.10 Hypothesis 3: There is no Significant
Relationship Between Perceived
Attributes of the
Technology and the Extent of Use of Improved
Management Practices for Indigenous Chicken
Technology. 120
4.11 Hypothesis 4: There is no Significant
Difference in the Extent of Use of
Various
Components of Improved Management Practices for Indigenous Chicken Production
in the Study Area. 124
CHAPTER 5:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 126
5.1 Summary
126
5.2 Conclusion
130
5.3 Recommendations
132
References
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
2.1:
Recommended age and route of
administration of vaccine 52
2.2: principal
parasites affecting poultry. 59
2.3: Principal internal parasites affecting
indigenous chicken 60
4.1a: Percentage distribution of the respondents
according to their socio- economic characteristics 91
4.1b: Percentage
distribution of the respondents according to their
socio-economic characteristics. 95
4 4.2 System of production used by farmers in the
study area 100
4.3: Percentage
distribution of respondent according to their level
production 101
4.4: Distribution
of farmers’ responses on their awareness of improved
management
practices for indigenous chicken 103
4.5: Mean
distribution on the extent of use of technology in South East Nigeria 108
4.6: Mean
distribution of farmers’ perceived attributes of the technologies 112
4.7: Problems
affecting utilization of improved indigenous poultry production technologies 114
4:8 Result
of the ordinary least square test of the relationship between selected socioeconomic characteristics and the
extent of use of improved indigenous chicken
production technologies 117
4. 9a: Analysis
of variance result of the test of difference in the extent of use of improved management practices for
indigenous chicken production across
the states. 119
10b: Pooled
results of the ordinary least square test of the relationship between perceived attributes of the improved
management practices for indigenous chicken
production and the extent of use of the improved practices in the
study area 119
LIST OF FIGURES
1: A conceptual; framework for utilization of improved management practices
for indigenous chicken production among rural
farmers in Southeast, Nigeria 77
2: Map
of South –East region of Nigeria 80
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Poultry is an important component of the rural economy in
diversifying agricultural production and increasing household food security
(Sonaiya, 2015; Nnadi, 2016; Norman et al.,
2014).Poultry production in Nigeria amount up to 454 billion tons of meat and 3.8million
eggs per year, with a standing population of 180million birds .About
80million chicken are raised in extensive system of production,60million
in semi-intensive system and the remaining 40million in intensive system.(African
Sustainable Livestock 2050(.2018); Food and Agricultural Organization Statistics(2018).
Indigenous chicken being a specie of poultry plays a significant
role in the livelihoods of human and it contributes significantly to food
security of the rural communities (Fan et
al.,2013; Fida et al, 2018;
FAO,2012) It is a valuable asset to local populations, especially in
disadvantaged groups and less favored areas of rural Africa, considering its
socio-economic characteristic and the promotion of gender equality. The
industry is crucial for meeting up with protein needs of man. (IFAD, 2013). According
to Asmelash et al, (2018) small
holder farming families and people with income below poverty line are able to
raise chicken with low input and harvest the benefit its products of eggs and
meat. The products are highly nutritious and have the capacity to fill the
yawning protein gap. The sale of eggs and live birds in urban and rural markets
is an important source of cash earnings available to rural families. It is
worthy to note that the United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Security
recommended protein at about 68g a day for sedentary or moderately active men
and 54g a day for women (UKDHSS, 2009).
Being an integral part of the economy in Nigeria, the practice
provides not only needed animal protein, but also employment and good income
for many citizens, thus accelerating poverty alleviation (FAO, 2010; Nutrition
source, 2016). Animal protein sources have been acknowledged to contain higher
biological value, being major sources of a wide range of essential
micro-nutrients, in particular minerals such as iron and zinc, vitamin A etc. Indigenous
chicken meat is preferred by consumers because of its palatable quality, cheap,
affordable, low fat and high marbled meat when compared to exotic poultry meat.
Additionally, poultry egg is an
excellent source of high quality protein and amino acid, rich in choline that
helps in brain development, lutein and zeaxanthin; anti-oxidants for good eye
sight and reduction of age- related muscular degeneration, vitamin D for strong
bones, selenium for prevention of cardiac arrest, stroke, heart attack,
formation of blood clots among others (Vukasoric, 2014).Indigenous chicken is
also used in religious sacrifice, a means of knowing time (communication) offered
as gift and in cementing marriages and friendship. In communities where food
shortages are common, chickens are kept to supplement the meals or to host
guests (Padhi, 2016; Ifenkwe and Ekweanya, 2015; Nwachukwu, 2014).
Furthermore, the system production
of these birds in developing countries is extensive (scavenging) or semi-intensive
(Ayanwale,et al 2015).Some small
holder farmers still hold opportunities to use exotic breeds for improvement of
local stock which they do under realistic management conditions resembling the
reality of smallholder farming (FAO, 2010).This breeding management practice
does not work alone without application or utilization of other improved
management practices like proper brooding, feeding, housing, health care and
disease control in the production activities to ensure high productivity of
indigenous chicken in the rural areas.
To achieve increased productivity, extension agents through ADP has
continuously disseminated management intervention packages to rural farmers
aimed at improving their production activities and mitigating the challenges associated
with local chicken production. However, majority of the smallholder farmers
with smaller flock size hardly realizes improved productivity which could be
explained by manner in which they selectively utilize or refuse to utilize
disseminated improved management interventions package. According to Nwachukwu,
(2003) stated that for farmers to benefit from such technologies they must
first have access to the information or the technology. Furthermore, Meyer
(2005) observed that inaccessibility to information on improved technologies
was responsible for lack of awareness of these improved practices to farmers,
which in turn contribute to their low level of utilization of agricultural
production technology.
It is with this understanding that African Chicken Genetic Gain
(ACGG) project conducted a baseline survey in 2015-2016 across ACGG countries
(i.e. Nigeria, Tanzania and Ethiopia) to understand, define and characterize
the current smallholder chicken production system, chicken ecotypes, current
productivity, husbandry practices, farmers’ production objectives and the socio-economic
status of the poor chicken producing smallholder farmers. Based on the Nigeria
baseline information for sustainable improvement of indigenous chicken
production under smallholder systems in the diverse agro-ecological regions,
ACGG is also following this approach and testing the performance of tropically
adapted breeds (exotic, exotic but locally improved, and locally improved
chickens) for egg productivity, growth and likability by farmers. The multiple
response analysis result showed that 89.09% of households preferred the local
chicken breeds to other chicken breed types. The reason for their preference
for the local chicken breeds were many, However, less sickness, better meat
taste, more eggs and longevity are the major reasons with high percentage
response (Mahendra, 2016; Sonaiya, 2016).
Livestock farmers, especially chicken farmers face a lot of
challenges like high mortality, high cost of feed and feeding materials,
inadequate extension service, low productivity of local chicken etc. Udedibie et al. (2012) stated that 80-90% of
chickens die within the first 2weeks after hatching, due to diseases
(Newcastle) and predation. Indigenous chicken is exposed to various hazards and
disease conditions that affect its flock size and productivity (Dessie, 2017;
FAO, 2018). The common ways by which infectious diseases are introduced in the
flock and spread are through the introduction of disease by carrier birds,
poultry crates, feeders, drinkers, litter material, etc. Other means can be
through contaminated feed, human movement in and out of the poultry house, air-
borne infections and through egg transmission and vectors, especially those
that are on intensive and semi- intensive system of production (UNDP, 2006).
Some of these diseases may be caused by protozoa, bacterial and
viral if not properly managed. They include- coccidiosis, fowl typhoid, chronic
respiratory disease (CRD), fowl pox, new castle disease, Gumboro etc. Disease
occurrence normally leads to the impairment of body function causing mechanical
and thermal injuries, nutritional deficiency, poisons, heredity and congenital
problems, which can be acute or chronic. Conceicao (2012) stated that the
sources of economic losses in poultry business include lack of technical
know-how, poor quality of feed, poor housing, mismanagement and disease
outbreak. The possible ways of controlling these diseases include those
measures taken to exclude diseases from unaffected population of birds
(isolation). It usually includes quarantine vaccination, routine medication
etc. Though in most cases, rural farmers use local/traditional medicine in the
prevention of these diseases while some literate ones use orthodox methods (Gebremariam
et al 2017). The survival of the
local breeds is threatened by several factors of economic and social needs. For
example, Cross breeding with exotic breeds in an uncontrolled way is in fact
one of the major cause that erode genetic diversity in the developing world,
although it is considered a way of improving the productivity (Makos et al., 2016). Therefore, this study is
to analyze the utilization
of improved management practices for indigenous chicken production among rural
farmers in south- east Nigeria.
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Production of poultry, especially indigenous chicken in the South
East region of Nigeria is not just for meeting the protein needs of the family
but is also means of survival as food and cash income earner for many of the
rural poor especially the landless ownership of local chicken farmers (FAO,
2008; Herrero et al., 2013). So in
this era of harsh economic conditions, dwindling national resources, hardship,
food insecurity especially in the rural areas of Nigeria coupled with
unemployment and high population growth; sustainability becomes the watchword
of every endeavor. Indigenous chicken production being an aged practice of
rural farmers and some of them are illiterate and do not have the knowledge of
rearing and management of exotic breeds of chicken. (Gwary et al, 2015) Moreso, these exotic birds are often not suited to
local conditions and demand high investments in feeds, veterinary supports and
energy(rearing requirements) that affect their performance and production
capacity.(Dueye,2015). The
improvement of indigenous chicken production can be one of the sustainable ways
of improving food security, livelihood of the resource- poor farmers,
especially women (Malesse, 2014; Fida et
al, 2018).
Presently in Nigeria, there has been a total neglect of indigenous
chicken species of livestock in some rural areas, thereby making local chicken
production or rearing to go into extinction in some parts of the country. The
neglect to this is attributed to its small body size resulting in low dressing
percentage, low egg yield and small egg size, slow growth rate, thus making it
less productive, non-attractive and undesirable in a competitive economic
situation. All these are attributed to negligence over improvement of local
breeds and poor management practices of the birds by the local farmers (Markos et al., 2016; Mahendra, 2016). Recently, international livestock research
institute(ILRI) introduced a program aimed at improving local chicken in Africa
(ACGG) in which Imo State is one of the states selected in Nigeria. Their
vision is to transform small holder chicken(SHC) production into a commercially
viable enterprise through the delivery of more productive locally adapted
chicken. So there is need to investigate the present state of production of
indigenous chicken in south –east will serve as a base-line information on
farmers level of production and utilization of improved technology.
Moreover, there has been ban on importation of poultry products
coupled with high cost and inadequate supply of the products in the country
irrespective of population growth, the pressure on the livestock sector to meet
with the growing demand for the high value animal protein was difficult. It now
calls for the need to fill the protein gap especially in the rural areas (Ariri,
2016; Capper, 2013).Other issues contributing to the decline in indigenous
chicken production include, high prevalence of uncontrolled pest and diseases,
poor management practices, bad weather conditions, poor sanitary conditions,
use of unimproved stock, and poor housing.(Dessie,2017) The factors among
others contribute to the record of high morbidity and mortality which
discourages so many investors from the poultry business or industry because of
its poor profitability. It has been reported by Nwachukwu, (2014) that one of
the main problems of agriculture is lack of technology and improper
communication of scientific findings needed for economic and social change.
More so, inaccessibility to research information on improved technologies was
responsible for lack of awareness among farmers, which in turn contributed to
farmer’s low level of adoption of agricultural-production technology (Uguru et al, 2015). Currently, there is dearth
of information on whether indigenous chicken rural farmers are aware of
improved management practices developed to increase local chicken production in
south-East Nigeria as against indigenous practices.
It is, therefore, imperative that efforts be channeled towards the
improvement on the production and management system of Nigerian indigenous
chicken bearing in mind its potentials for rural poverty alleviation, animal
protein food security, employment, income etc. That will help ease the
demand-supply gap in the country. These have to be addressed to enable the
industry to thrive especially now the economy is recovering from recession.
This study seeks to fill this knowledge gap by examining the utilization of improved management practices for
indigenous chicken production among rural farmers in South-east Nigeria.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
(1) What
are the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of indigenous chicken
farmers in the study area?
(2) What
are the types of production system used among rural indigenous chicken farmers
in south east of Nigeria?
(3) What
is the level of production of indigenous chicken kept in the study area?
(4) What
is the level of awareness of improved management practices for indigenous
chicken farmers in the study area?
(5) What
is the extent of use of improved management practices for indigenous chicken
farmers in south east of Nigeria?
(6) What
are the farmers’ perceptions to improved management practices in the study
area?
(7) What
are farmer’s constraints to the use of improved management practices in the
study area?
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Broad objective
The major objective of the study was to analyze the
utilization of improved management practices of indigenous chicken among rural
farmers in the South east of Nigeria. Specific Objectives were to:
- describe the
socio-economic characteristics of indigenous chicken farmers in the study
area.
- ascertain types of
production system used by respondents.
- examine the level of
production of indigenous chicken kept by rural famers in the area.
- ascertain
respondent’s awareness of improved management practices for indigenous
chicken production.
- assess extent of use
of improved management practices for indigenous chicken production among
rural farmers in the area.
- ascertain farmers
perceived attributes of improved management practices for indigenous
chicken production in the study area.
- ddetermine
the prevailing constraints to improved management practices for indigenous
chicken production.
1.5 HYPOTHESES OF
THE STUDY
The
hypotheses of the study were stated in null form and these include:
Hypothesis
1: There is no significant relationship between selected socio-economic
characteristics of the respondents and the extent of use of improved management
practices for indigenous chicken production.
Hypothesis
2: There is no significant difference in the mean use of improved management
practices for indigenous chicken production among the States in South east,
Nigeria.
Hypothesis
3: There is no significant relationship between farmers’ perceived attributes
of the improved management practices for indigenous chicken and the extent of
use of these practices.
Hypothesis
4: There is no significant difference in the extent of use and different
component of improved management practices for indigenous chicken production in
the study area.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
According to FAO, (2013) the world will need by 2050 to feed an
additional 2 billion people and require 70% more animal protein to achieve
that. It is reasoned that livestock (chicken production) is part of the
solution to global food insecurity and measure for eradication of extreme
poverty. In the rural communities of South-east, Nigeria, livestock production
especially chicken among rural households in the region is not just for meeting
the protein needs of the family but is also an income earner and has some
prestige attached to it. Chicken in south-east Nigeria also has some
socio-economic and cultural value.
As reported by Melesse2014; FAO, 2012, livestock production is an
important contributor to sustainable food security for many nations,
particularly in low-income areas, and marginal habitats that are not suitable
for crop production (Godber and Wall, 2014).
Chicken production is important because of the divergent roles it plays
in improving the nutritional status, providing employment, income, food
security and livelihood of small holders. This is significant owing to low cost
of production and also having a utility use of meat and eggs that contributes
to protein need of low – income and food deficit countries. The products (eggs
and meat) are highly nutritious and have the capacity to fill the yearning
protein gap. They are high quality source of Protein, Vitamins, and micro
nutrients, cheap and without taboos (FAO, 2010; Norman, et al 2014).
Chicken production has been contributing to socio-cultural
functions in rural communities (Ifenkwe and Ekweanya (2015) added that local
chicken are important for special festivals, offered as gift to honour special
guest, good meat for festivals like New Yam Festivals, naming ceremony and gift
to a newly married couple, which signifies acceptance and cementing marriages
and friendship thereby strengthening social networks between women and men in
the society. Chicken permits farmers to raise money in times of need and
valuable for medical and veterinary research (Assets function). They help in
provision of input for other activities; manure which help to improve seed
germination and growth thereby helping in high production crops (UNDP, 2006).
Studies were conducted by Dunya et al, (2015) on the Local chicken management in rural Bornu State
Nigeria and Kperegbeyi et al, (2019)
on effect of local chicken production strategy of household poultry development
in Niger Delta Nigeria, but they were not comprehensive enough and site specific.
Utilization of improved management practices for indigenous chicken production among Rural
farmers in South-east Nigeria is an essential prerequisite to bring this into
effect. This work will provide simple tools and lesson on how to improve the
productivity of these chickens and enhance household food security and its
sufficiency.
The study will be relevant to extension agent and other
stakeholders by using the findings to transform households from passive to
active chicken producers using basic chicken management knowledge and skills.
It will also provide a background for quality policy formation in boosting meat
production among rural households especially now there is ban on importation of
frozen chicken in Nigeria. Finally, it will contribute to knowledge and serve
as reference material to researchers and students in the field of agriculture
and rural development in South-East, and Nigeria at large.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study was carried out in three States (Anambra, Ebonyi, and
Imo State) out of the five States that make up the Southeast agro – Ecological
Zones. Respondents were indigenous Chicken farmers.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
1.
Indigenous-
An act of belonging to a particular place or area [nature] rather than coming
to it from someone else.
2.
Household
- A group of people often a family who
lives together and feed from the same pot.
3.
Chicken
Production - The process of growing local birds for meat or eggs especially in large quantities.
4.
Rural-The
area that is still very local in nature and underdeveloped.
5.
Rural
Household - This is a group of people or families who live together in an
underdeveloped area.
6.
Food-Security
- The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quality of affordable,
nutritious food.
7.
Local-
Belonging to or connected with a particular area or place where you live.
8.
Awareness-This
is knowing or realizing that something exist(its important and becoming
interested or not)
9.
Management-
An act of running and controlling a livestock business or project for optimum
profitability
10.
The South
East Zone- The area between latitude 4o
20’N and 7o 25’N and Longitude 5o 21’ and 8o
51’N covering a land area of about 109 524 Sqkm, which represents about 11.86%
of the total area of the region .
11.
Poverty
Alleviation- The state of being relieved from being poor or unable to buy ones
basic needs.
12. Chicken
Production: Chicken production refers to the series of activities aimed at
selecting breeding, feeding, housing and maintaining those chicken (birds) kept
by man for economic and social benefits.
13. Livestock: They are farm animals kept by man for
economic and social benefits.
14. Brooding: This is defined as the management of
chicks from one-day old to about 4 – 8 weeks of age, and it involves the provision
of heat and other necessary care during chicks’ early growing period.
15. Vaccination: This is a health management practices
that involves routine inoculation of vaccine (drug) to the birds to boost their
immune system that suppress the effect of the virus.
16. Management:
It is an integrated activity that results in husbanding the animal from birth
until market. It incorporates the housing, feeding (nutrition) and health
maintenance of the animal.
17. Culling:
This is the identification and removal of birds from the hen (mother) or flock
that does not possess the qualities for giving enough benefit in return for
their culture.
1.9 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
In the course of the study, the researcher encountered some
challenges. Shortly after distribution of my questionnaire the incidence of
Covid-1 occurred. This distorted the use of interview and focus group
discussion in the states studied. So, some oral information were not obtained
from the farmers. The farmers refused taking pictures either because of fear of
Covid-19 or fear of where the picture will be taken to. Cost of transportation
and mode of transport were also major challenges especially during retrieving/collection
of filled questionnaire. This is as a result of inter-state lock down.
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