CHAPTER
ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     
Background
of the study

The
Agriculture in Nigeria has remained the largest sector contributing nearly 39%
to the gross domestic product for the past two decades and employing nearly 60%
of its workforce. Over 80% of the country’s population in the rural areas is
directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for its livelihood (NBC,2005).
The Nigeria livestock resources consist of 13,885,813 cattle; 34,453,724 Goat;
22,092, 602 sheep; 3,406,381 pigs; 104,247,960 poultry (Rim, 1992). From these
figures, poultry is about 58. 72% of the total livestock production which
indicates the place of poultry sub-sections in the livestock industry.

Poultry
plays an important economic, nutritional and socio-cultural role in the
livelihood or rural household in many developing countries including Nigeria.
Poultry are birds that include fowl, turkey, duck, goose, ostrich guinea fowl,
pigeon etc. which render not only economic services but contribute
significantly to human food as a primary supplier of meat, egg, raw materials
for industries (feathers, waste products), source of income and employment to
people compare to other domestic animals (Avila 1985; Demehe, 2004).

Poultry
meat and eggs play a very useful role in protein production in Nigeria. They
are palatable and generally acceptable. This acceptability cuts across nearly
all cultural region boundaries in Nigeria. Poultry industry plays important
role in the development of Nigeria economy. Poultry production has become a
full time job for many Nigerians and significantly contribute to the Groose
National Product (GNP) (Umeh and Odo; 2002). Poultry products mainly meat and
eggs represent important food for improving the nutritional status particularly
of the most vulnerable populations-children and pregnant women. Poultry
production is an important part of farming in many parts of the world. The
major attracting factor in poultry production is probably the tendency of
providing a fairly rapid return on capital (Abdulkali; 2002).

The
poultry industry in Nigeria has recorded considerable expansion in recent time
(FAO, 2000). For example, the creation of AkwaIbom State in 1987 and the
increased activities of oil and gas companies in the area with the resultant
improvement in the demand for animal protein especially in the form of poultry
products. This has led to the establishment of poultry farms which are located
in Uyo agricultural zone of the state. While overall national increase in
poultry production has probably triggered off vigorous research into
alternative and cheaper feed resources urgently needed to sustain such growth:
there is the need to continually focus attention on the health of the animals
in other to realize the full potential of the industry (Fasami; 1990).

Poultry
diseases remain one of the major threats to boosting poultry production in
Nigeria (Halle et al., 1998; Laseinde, 2002). Poultry diseases continue to play
major central role in hampering its development (FAO, 1998; Rushton et al,
1999)  The impact of diseases on animal agriculture is typically assessed
in quantitative terms. In poultry industry examples of these terms include lost
revenues, costs of vaccination/prevention, eradication decontamination and
restocking. These have been referred to as a negative input (Unrusfield, 1995).
In Nigeria, diseases are among the major factors that hinder poultry
development (Alanargot, 1987; Alemu, 1995).

A
lot of losses in poultry have been linked to diseases causing agents such as
viruses, bacteria and parasites. It has been estimated that more than 750
million chicken, guinea fowls and duckling in Africa die each year as a result
of various infections (Sonaiya 1990). Although somewhat in birds parasitic has
been achieved by commercial production system mostly due to improved housing
hygiene and management practices, the prevalence of infectious diseases is
still very rampant (Pandry et at: 1992). Nigeria has a comparatively well
developed poultry industry for West African Nation.

Apantaku
(2006) described this trend to the low level of poultry production in
comparison to the level of poultry technologies being generated by Nigerian
poultry researchers. The prevailing situation became worsen in 2006 by the
reported outbreak of highly pathogenic and viral diseases like Avian influenza,
Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease and coccidiosis. Obayelu (2007)
reports that the diseases outbreak led many poultry farmer into psychological
breakdown due to losses incurred and also affected animal protein intake of a
large sector of Nigeria population.

Major
limitations confronting the industry are numerous. The problems confronting the
poultry industry in Nigeria include disease, low egg production, poor chick
quality, poor weight gain, lack of capital, management problems etc (Van et
al.; 1995; Apantaku et al; 1998; Ojo; 2003). Other problems include high cost
of drugs and equipment such as battery cases, high cost of feeding, increasing
cost of medications, marketing and lack of storage facilities as well as
unfriendly government policy and finance. Sources of economic losses in poultry
include lack of technical know-how, poor quality feed, poor housing,
mismanagement and of great significance, disease outbreak which had received
tremendous attention (Adekumisi et al; 1996; Torimiiro et. al., 2002).

Despite
the economic significance of the diseases to the commercial and small scale
poultry producers in the country, no substantial research has been done to asses
its economic losses. With the increasing interest in poultry production
evidenced by the proliferation in poultry farms, it is pertinent to continually
evaluate the prevalence rate and management issues associated with common
poultry disease such as Avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious
bursal  disease and coccidiosis.

1.2    
Statement of the Problem

The
incidence of poultry diseases in Nigeria has led many poultry farmers into
psychological breakdown due to losses incurred. Poultry diseases has a gross
attack rate on commercial poultry production. Culling birds in order to
eradicate and control the spread of the diseases has negatively affected the
livelihoods of all classes of poultry owners and producers. Such an impact is
most serious on the smaller family producer and commercial producer whom
poultry production is their sole of income generation. Effects of poultry
diseases on the economy. Where market is lost through the reduced rate to
export, restriction of movement of birds and the closing of some domestic
markets is especially the constraint which affect the income generating ability
of smaller producers in the zone (Mettzer et al., 1999). The non-consumption of
poultry meat as well as its products has also affected animal protein intake in
the large sector of the population. The most pronounced affect is the sharp
decline in demand as people avoided eating and demanding for poultry product
out of fear of being infected (WHO, 2004a). The survivability of poultry
industry in Nigeria is very low due to poor management techniques embarked upon
by rural poultry farmers, and outbreak of seasonally defendant diseases that
can account for high chick losses and mortality.

1.3    
Purpose of the Study

The
study is aimed at examining the prevalence rate of poultry diseases and
mortality of flock in the study area. Specifically the study seeks the
following objectives.

1.   To
determine the prevalence rate of Avian influence and its mortality rate on
poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.

2.   To
determine the prevalence rate of Newcastle Disease and it mortality rate on
poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.

3.   To
determine the prevalence rate of infectious Bursal disease and its mortality
rate on poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.

4.   To
determine the prevalence rate of coccidiosis and its mortality rate on poultry
in Uyo Local Government Area.

1.4     
    Research Hypotheses

H0:the
prevalence rate of Avian influence does not have any effect on mortality rate
on poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.

H1:the
prevalence rate of Avian influence does have effect on mortality rate on
poultry in Uyo Local Government Area.

H02:prevalence
rate of Newcastle Disease does not have any impact on mortality rate on poultry
in Uyo Local Government Area

H2: prevalence
rate of Newcastle Disease does have impact on mortality rate on poultry in Uyo
Local Government Area

1.5    
Significance of the Study

1.   The
finding of this study will motivate the farmer to produce quality and disease
free products capable of meeting the nutritional requirement of address the
problems of malnutrition, food insecurity low income and poverty as a whole.

2.   Nigerian
policy makers and Animal Health Professionals will benefit from the study as
the studies will expose them to the cause of major epidermis seen each year
resulting in death of many birds, and this knowledge will enable more precise
disease control planning.

3.   The
study will provide valuable data to the scientist for epidemiogical studies
both logically throughout Nigeria through collaboration. The data will also
assist them with a role informing animal health and disease control policy.

4.   The
study will be significant in the training of farmers on improve livestock
breeds for the gradual upgrading of local breeds.

5.   This
study will help to increase productivity of poultry farms which in turn will
create job opportunity to the community and reduce the cost of production. Also
the more progressive or productive the poultry farm is, the more produce will
be supplied to the market for distribution.

6.   The
study will help the community dwellers and those practicing poultry on
subsistence level in Uyo Local Government Area by teaching them poultry
management practices and approaches which can be used to achieve improved
performance in their business.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The
scope of the study covers the prevalence of poultry disease and its mortality
rate; in the cause of the study, there were factors which militate against the
scope of the study

a)    
AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research
material      available to the researcher
is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

b)    
TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does
not enhance wider         coverage as the
researcher has to combine other academic activities        and examinations with the study.

c)    
FINANCE: The finance available for the research
work does not     allow for wider
coverage as resources are very limited as the        researcher has other academic bills to
cover.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a parasitic
disease of the intestinal tract of animals caused by coccidian protozoa. The
disease spreads from one animal to another by contact with infected feces or
ingestion of infected tissue. Diarrhea, which may become bloody in severe
cases, is the primary symptom.

Poultry

Poultry
are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their
feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder
Galloanserae, especially the order Galliformes

Mortality

Mortality is the state of being
mortal, or susceptible to death;
the opposite of immortality.

1.8   
ORGANIZATION
OF THE STUDY

This
research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview,
of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research
question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms
and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical
framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the
study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and
presentation of finding.  Chapter five
gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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