Husbandry practices, disease management and production profiles among smallholder layer chicken farms in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania
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Date
2017
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Publisher
Tanzanina Veterinary Association
Abstract
Husbandry practices, disease management and production profiles were examined among 46 smallholder layer chicken
farms in Morogoro, Tanzania; using a structured questionnaire and direct observations. Farmers kept their chickens in
deep litter system or in cages. The average flock size was 350 birds (97-8000). Chickens were stocked at day old or at 12
to 14 weeks of age. For day old chickens farmers used antimicrobials in the first seven days, combined with
multivitamins. Farmers vaccinated chickens against Newcastle disease, gumboro and fowlpox. Beak trimming was
performed at 12 to 16 weeks. Most farms had a foot bath at the entrance to poultry houses. Chicken house cleaning was
regular for cage system. Some farmers sent dead birds to veterinary centres for necropsy and others disposed or fed them
to dogs. Some farmers used commercial feeds for their chickens whereas others made their own. The average age at
point-of-lay was 20 weeks (16-22) and peak lay was attained two to three months later. Laying percentage varied greatly
between flocks (55-90; mean 76); and fluctuated within flocks. Farmers attributed drop in egg production to diseases,
feed quality, stresses and use of sulphur drugs. Viral, bacterial, parasitic and nutritional diseases were reported to be
common in the flocks. The culling age was 18 to 24 months. The study revealed inadequacies in layer chicken husbandry
and flock health management. Eventually the production was poor with irregularities. Improvements in husbandry and
disease management would increase and sustain production.
Description
Proceeding of the 35 scientific conference of the Tanzania Veterinary Association, Vol. 35: 199-210
Keywords
Bio-security, Husbandry practices, Layer chickens, Morogoro, Production profiles