CHARACTERIZATION OF POULTRY FARMING IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF TARABA STATE

This study was conducted to characterize the poultry farming in Taraba State, Nigeria. Eight (8) Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected out of the sixteen (16) LGAs in the State. A total of fifty structured questionnaires were randomly administered to poultry farmers to collate some relevant information on the challenges facing them. The data collected were subjected to simple descriptive statistics using means and percentages to describe socio-economic activities and other information regarding the farmers. The results showed that majority (71.4%) of the farmers were within the age group of 21-40 years. Poultry enterprise in the State was mainly a business for the males, accounting for about 71.4%. The educational background of the farmers showed that 71.4% had formal and tertiary education, with few others having only secondary (25.0%) or Qur`anic (3.6%) education. However, most farmers (82.1%) had experience ranging from 1 to 10 years in the business. Poultry farming was mainly for commercial purpose (61.9%) with few others keeping/rearing poultry for consumption (33.3%) and 4.8% for prestige. About 53.6% of the farmers sell or otherwise dispose of their birds all-year round, while few others target sales during festive occasions, Eid-el- Fitr (21.4%) and 14.3% for Christmas. The results also revealed that farmers kept various poultry species. This was made up of 87.5% chickens, 9.4% turkeys and 3.1% guinea fowls; with 89.3% of these animals being improved breeds. Poultry keeping was mainly operated at small-scale level (46.4%) having ≤ 300 birds per farmer. This was followed by medium-sized operations; those with birds ranging from 301 to 600 birds per individual farmer (39.3%). About 14.3% of farmers practised large scale poultry production with 1201 to 1500 birds per farmer. The majority (85.7%) of farmers kept their poultry under an intensive management system. There were 10.7 and 3.6% farmers who practised the semi-intensive and extensive systems of production, respectively. Reported cases of disease incidence among farmers; fowl fox (17.6%), fowl cholera (17.6%), Gumboro (11.8%), Newcastle (23.5%), fowl typhoid (23.5%) and coccidiosis (5.9%). Most disease outbreaks (46.4%) occurred during the late wet season followed by 28.6 % in the early dry season and the late dry season with a 25.0% incidence rate. Disease outbreak was the major militating factor against poultry production. High cost of feeds as well as the cost of disease treatment was also a limiting factor in the production processes. Generally, improved management practices as well as prompt control of diseases will go a long way towards increased productivity of this species in the area