Small-Scale Family Poultry Production As A Substantial Source Of Animal Protein In Selected Local Government Areas In Rivers State

A survey was conducted through structured questionnaires to find out consumers’ preference for local chicken, its production and consumption in khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas (LGAs) making up the Ogoni kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and ranking. The result showed that the 3 most available and preferred species of poultry were local chicken (47.5%), layer birds (21.9%) and broilers (17.5%). Most of the respondents agreed that although productivity of local fowl had fallen compared to the last 5 years, chicken meat was still popular, more available for sales and a relatively cheap source of meat and eggs for rural dwellers. The major reason given for reduced productivity was rural-urban drift in search of education and paid jobs. It is therefore believed that a sensitization campaign aimed at encouraging small and medium scale local chicken production organized by government agencies and/or nongovernmental organizations will be a sure way of increasing animal protein supply, generate employment opportunities for youths and women, increase income, alleviate poverty, reducerural-urban drift and enhance rural livelihood in Ogoni are

The chicken or the egg? Exploring bi-directional associations between Newcastle disease vaccination and village chicken flock size in rural Tanzania

Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral disease of poultry with global importance, responsible for the loss of a potential source of household nutrition and economic livelihood in many low-income food-deficit countries. Periodic outbreaks of this endemic disease result in high mortality amongst free-ranging chicken flocks and may serve as a disincentive for rural households to invest time or resources in poultry-keeping. Sustainable ND control can be achieved through vaccination using a thermotolerant vaccine administered via eyedrop by trained "community vaccinators". This article evaluates the uptake and outcomes of fee-for-service ND vaccination programs in eight rural villages in the semi-arid central zone of Tanzania. It represents part of an interdisciplinary program seeking to address chronic undernutrition in children through improvements to existing poultry and crop systems. Newcastle disease vaccination uptake was found to vary substantially across communities and seasons, with a significantly higher level of vaccination amongst households participating in a longitudinal study of children's growth compared with non-participating households (p = 0.009). Two multivariable model analyses were used to explore associations between vaccination and chicken numbers, allowing for clustered data and socioeconomic and cultural variation amongst the population. Results demonstrated that both (a) households that undertook ND vaccination had a significantly larger chicken flock size in the period between that vaccination campaign and the next compared with those that did not vaccinate (p = 0.018); and (b) households with larger chicken flocks at the time of vaccination were significantly more likely to participate in vaccination programs (p < 0.001). Additionally, households vaccinating in all three vaccination campaigns held over 12 months were identified to have significantly larger chicken flocks at the end of this period (p < 0.001). Opportunities to understand causality and complexity through quantitative analyses are limited, and there is a role for qualitative approaches to explore decisions made by poultry-keeping households and the motivations, challenges and priorities of community vaccinators. Evidence of a bi-directional relationship, however, whereby vaccination leads to greater chicken numbers, and larger flocks are more likely to be vaccinated, offers useful insights into the efficacy of fee-for-service animal health programs. This article concludes that attention should be focused on ways of supporting the participation of vulnerable households in ND vaccination campaigns, and encouraging regular vaccination throughout the year, as a pathway to strengthen food security, promote resilience and contribute to improved human nutrition

Consumers preference for rabbit meat as a source of animal protein in selected Local Government Areas in Rivers State

The study was designed to determine consumer’s preference for rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniclus) meat with respect to its production and consumption in Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas (LGAs) making up the Ogoni Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria. A sample of 80 respondents (20 per LGA) were selected and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages. The result indicated that the availability of animals reared or hunted in the LGAs apart from poultry were in the order of goat (47.5%), sheep (28.8%), rabbit (11.3%), grass-cutter (8.8%) and monkey (3.8%). Producer’s preference for rearing animals also followed a similar order. Demographic characteristics of the rabbit farmer showed that most of them were males (above 50 years) who had tertiary education and kept 1-20 rabbits both for family consumption and sales. Although more of the respondents (47.5%) were aware of rabbit as an animal, goats were more domesticated in the area but they indicated their readiness to increase the production and consumption of rabbit (77.5%). Further investigation revealed that consumers had high preference for goat and sheep meat, medium preference for rabbit and grass-cutter meat and low preference for meat from monkey. Among the factors identified that were capable of boosting rabbit production were the rich vegetation in the area, the ability of the rabbits to survive on roughages with little or no proprietary feeds, low cost of production, short gestation period and the high prolific nature of rabbits. It is therefore believed that with the good knowledge of goat and sheep production by most of the respondents in the area, which has some similarities with that of rabbit production, any effort targeted at improving the people’s preference for rabbit production and consumption in the LGAs (through radio jingles or seminars) will increase animal protein intake, create jobs, alleviate poverty and enhance rural livelihood.Keywords: Rabbit, meat, consumer preference, animal protei

Cassava root meal as substitute for maize in layers ration

The effect of replacing maize with graded levels of cassava root meal (CRM) as energy source in the diet of laying hens was evaluated during the eight weeks of feeding experiment on performance and cost benefits on layers. Forty-five Nera black laying hens of 24 weeks of age were allocated to five dietary treatments, with nine birds per treatment in a completely randomized design. CRM was used to formulate the diets at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The result showed that the feed intake of birds in the control group was significantly (p<0.05) different from those fed the CRM diets. The average weight gain of layers receiving up to 50% CRM was similar to the control birds, but significantly different from layers fed 75 and 100% CRM. No mortality was recorded. Egg production per hen per day and average egg weight were significantly different (p<0.05) for birds consuming more than 50% CRM in T4 and T5. Layer feed ration was made cheaper by the replacement of maize with cassava root meal in the diets