Browsing by Author "Chota, Andrew"

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    Chicken production, flock size, management systems, and challenges in the Dodoma region in Tanzania
    (Elsevier Inc., 2021) Ngongolo, Kelvin; Chota, Andrew
    Dodoma's population is growing rapidly creating a high demand for food security like chicken products. However, the distribution of chickens’ management systems, breed of chicken kept, and challenges facing chicken production in Dodoma are less documented. This study focused on finding out the productivity of chicken in terms of flock size and how it is affected by the management system, types/breed of chicken keeping, and evaluating the challenges facing chicken production in Dodoma. A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was used to generate data from the two randomly selected districts namely, Kongwa and Dodoma Municipal. The results showed that the average flock size was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in Dodoma municipal (mean = 124.56 § 35.08, n = 200) than in Kongwa district (mean = 42.55 § 5.54, n = 200). Broiler and layers keeping under the intensive system were dominant in Dodoma municipal while local breed chicken under the free-range system was dominant in Kongwa district (P < 0.001). Diseases were the main challenge facing chicken production. It was eminent that, diseases and other challenges such as theft, predation, lack of experts, unavailable space and huts for keeping chicken, and insufficient feed staffs for chicken significantly lowered the chicken production in Dodoma (P < 0.05). It is conclusive that, the demand for chicken products in Dodoma is higher and will continue to increase. There is a need for chicken keepers to increase production to overcome the current deficit. The increases in production should go hand in hand with solving the challenges which face chicken production in Dodoma.
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    Chicken production, flock size, management systems, and challenges in the Dodoma region in Tanzania
    (Elsevier BV, 2021) Ngongolo, Kelvin; Chota, Andrew
    Dodoma's population is growing rapidly creating a high demand for food security like chicken products. However, the distribution of chickens’ management systems, breed of chicken kept, and challenges facing chicken production in Dodoma are less documented. This study focused on finding out the productivity of chicken in terms of flock size and how it is affected by the management system, types/breed of chicken keeping, and evaluating the challenges facing chicken production in Dodoma. A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was used to generate data from the two randomly selected districts namely, Kongwa and Dodoma Municipal. The results showed that the average flock size was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in Dodoma municipal (mean = 124.56 ± 35.08, n = 200) than in Kongwa district (mean = 42.55 ± 5.54, n = 200). Broiler and layers keeping under the intensive system were dominant in Dodoma municipal while local breed chicken under the free-range system was dominant in Kongwa district (P < 0.001). Diseases were the main challenge facing chicken production. It was eminent that, diseases and other challenges such as theft, predation, lack of experts, unavailable space and huts for keeping chicken, and insufficient feed staffs for chicken significantly lowered the chicken production in Dodoma (P < 0.05). It is conclusive that, the demand for chicken products in Dodoma is higher and will continue to increase. There is a need for chicken keepers to increase production to overcome the current deficit. The increases in production should go hand in hand with solving the challenges which face chicken production in Dodoma.
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    Chicken production, flock size, management systems, and challenges in the Dodoma region in Tanzania
    (Elsevier BV, 2021-06) Ngongolo, Kelvin; Chota, Andrew
    Raising chickens is an important activity in many resources constrained households in developing countries, as it is an important source of economic resilience as well as nutrition and food security. Despite its importance, the poultry industry faces many difficulties, including diseases due to low biosecurity and a lack of knowledge on proper management. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to study the management practices that influence the performance of chickens in the households raising them in the Dodoma region of Tanzania. The results showed that 89% of respondents were vaccinating their chickens against diseases like Newcastle, fowlpox, infectious bursal disease and salmonellosis. However, many chicken farmers had incorrect information on the vaccination programs, including the frequency of vaccination and the timing of vaccinations, versus the provision of drugs for prophylactic purposes. The results showed that 29.5% of the farmers vaccinated weekly and 63.5% provided prophylactic drugs weekly. Furthermore, raising different types of chickens (OR = 1.45; p<0.01), frequency of vaccinations, (OR = 1.23; p<0.04), larger flocks of chickens (OR = 1.7; p<0.01), small number of chickens per drinker (OR = 1.64; p<0.05) and per feeder (OR = 2.4; p<0.05) were management factors associated with positive chicken performance in terms of growth rate, egg production and weight gain. It is recommended that the farmers are equipped with the necessary information on best management practices like vaccination regimes, prophylaxis timing and proper ratios of chickens per feeder and drinker.
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    Chicken productivity under improved health care and management practices in Dodoma region, Tanzania
    (University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2023) Chota, Andrew; Ngongolo, Kelvin; Ngumbi, Anna; Mmbaga, Naza; Msuta, Gilbert
    Raising chickens is an important activity in many resources constrained households in developing countries, as it is an important source of economic resilience as well as nutrition and food security. Despite its importance, the poultry industry faces many difficulties, including diseases due to low biosecurity and a lack of knowledge on proper management. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to study the management practices that influence the performance of chickens in the households raising them in the Dodoma region of Tanzania. The results showed that 89% of respondents were vaccinating their chickens against diseases like Newcastle, fowlpox, infectious bursal disease and salmonellosis. However, many chicken farmers had incorrect information on the vaccination programs, including the frequency of vaccination and the timing of vaccinations, versus the provision of drugs for prophylactic purposes. The results showed that 29.5% of the farmers vaccinated weekly and 63.5% provided prophylactic drugs weekly. Furthermore, raising different types of chickens (OR = 1.45; p<0.01), frequency of vaccinations, (OR = 1.23; p<0.04), larger flocks of chickens (OR = 1.7; p<0.01), small number of chickens per drinker (OR = 1.64; p<0.05), and per feeder (OR = 2.4; p<0.05) were management factors associated with positive chicken performance in terms of growth rate, egg production and weight gain. It is recommended that the farmers are equipped with the necessary information on best management practices like vaccination regimes, prophylaxis timing and proper ratios of chickens per feeder and drinker.
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    Effect of sex, age, diseases, and control intervention on chickens’ mortality and its financial implications in Dodoma, Tanzania
    (Elsevier, 2022) Ngongolo, Kelvin; Chota, Andrew
    Chicken diseases significantly contribute to the financial losses of small-scale chicken keepers in Tanzania through mortality and control management. However, little is known about the relationship between chicken mortality and disease, sex, and control measures. In addition, the financial losses for farmers in Dodoma resulted from mortality due to diseases and poor productivity due to improper management. A cross-sectional, longitudinal questionnaire survey with multistage sampling was conducted in the Kongwa district and Dodoma municipality to gather data from 400 randomly selected households (200 from each district). Semistructured questionnaires were used for data collection over four quarters of the year. Low morbidity and high mortality due to diseases were observed in first and second quarters (Q1 and Q2), whereas high morbidity and low mortality were observed in third and fourth quarters (Q3 and Q4). The Kongwa district experienced significantly higher mortality than the Dodoma Municipal district (P < 0.001). Disease mortality was negatively affected by cocks, hens and chicks (P < 0.001). Control interventions such as treatment, prophylaxis use lowered the effect of chicken mortality due to diseases and pronounced effects when at least 2 approaches were applied by the farmers (P < 0.005). The total financial loss incurred by the 400 interviewees is approximately Tsh. 119.9 million (52,146.96 USD). This study outlines the financial losses associated with mortality, poor productivity, poor performance, and increased costs of disease management and control in chicken-keeper households in the Dodoma region. To avoid these losses, farmers and other stakeholders should design proper control strategies while considering the season of the year and disease categories affecting chickens.
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    Productivity and growth performance of chickens from small holder farmers in Dodoma,
    (EBSCO Open Research, 2023) Ngongolo, Kelvin; Mmbaga, Naza; Chota, Andrew
    This study focused on the productivity of chickens in terms of stocking and growth performance of chickens kept by small-scale chicken holders and the associated factors in the Dodoma municipality in three wards, namely, Nkuhungu, Chang'ombe and Mnadani. A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted to collect data on the perceptions of farmers raising chickens in terms of productivity. Similarly, a longitudinal survey was made by monitoring the chicks ages, ranging from 0 to 60 days (2 months). This study was used to collect data on the management performance of chicks from five selected farmers. A total of 390 individuals were interviewed, of whom 26.15% (n = 102) were from Nkuhungu, 41.28% (n = 161) from Chang'ombe, and 32.56% (n = 127) from Mnadani wards. Adult males (26 - 35 years old) (66.67%) were more likely to be involved in chicken keeping in Mnadani ward. Household size and chicken breed significantly contributed to the productivity of chickens in Dodoma, where layers production were leading. The growth performance of chicks over time was affected by the management system (e.g., free range and semi-intensive), age and sex of chickens, cleanliness, treatment regime, and flock size. In order to improve the productivity of chickens in Dodoma through the stocking rate and growth performance of chicks, we recommend that, the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmers raising chickens and other factors such as management strategies and systems be considered.