Chicken production, flock size, management systems, and challenges in the Dodoma region in Tanzania
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Date
2021-06
Authors
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Publisher
Elsevier BV
Abstract
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.
Description
Full text. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375670600
Keywords
Chicken production, Veterinary care, Management and vaccines, Growth, Performance
Citation
Chota, A., Ngongolo, K., Ngumbi, A., Mmbaga, N., & Msuta, G. (2023). CHICKEN PRODUCTIVITY UNDER IMPROVED HEALTH CARE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN DODOMA REGION, TANZANIA. Animal Research International, 20(3).