Village Poultry Production Health and Management System in Benue State, Nigeria

Most rural communities in Nigeria keep village poultry (VP). These birds are kept with minimal input of resources and are considered by most smallholders as supplementary to the main livelihood activities. A study on village poultry production, health and management system in Benue State was conducted in 24 communities of six Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State. Data were collected through interview by using structured questionnaires, group discussion with key informants and direct observation. The results showed that the main management system used by the village poultry farmers (VPF) was the free range system (92.9%). Most of the VPF (95.6%) provided housing for their birds, some used their kitchen (40.2%) to house birds, about 32.6% used thatched houses. The study showed that 49% gave feed supplement to their birds in the morning, 13.2% gave in the evening. The feed supplement given include guinea corn (29.6%), maize (14.3%) and household leftovers. The main source of drinking water for the birds was from the community well (40.8%) and water from the river (35.7%). Predators (52%) and theft (22.4%) were identified as the commonest cause of losses in the village poultry. About 42.0% of the VPF would eat sick birds, 19.0% (5/98) would use local treatment, while about 36.9% (35/98) would seek veterinary help. The weekly market (62.2%) was where most of the farmers sell their birds. About (81.6%) of the VPF who participated in the study had some knowledge of poultry diseases with Newcastle disease ranking highest in terms of outbreak and mortality. Women played a major role in village poultry development through ownership (61.2%) of the flocks and provision of labour. The study concluded that the productivity of the village poultry in Benue State was low and thus calls for appropriate interventions to be focused on the improvement of feeding, housing and health care