Poultry health constraints in smallholder village poultry systems in Northern Ghana and Central Tanzania

Abstract

IntroductionSmallholder poultry production is a major contributor to food security and rural livelihoods in low-and middle-income countries. However, infectious diseases limit improvements to smallholder poultry production and performance of the sector in general. Infectious diseases of poultry, especially viral diseases, have major impacts on the health and productivity of flocks and account for significant morbidities and mortalities of birds each year.MethodsThis study utilized participatory epidemiology approaches to better understand the poultry health constraints and challenges faced by smallholder poultry producers in village poultry systems in Northern Ghana and Central Tanzania.ResultsThe results show dominance of small-scale semi-intensive and extensive scavenging poultry production systems in the study areas. Newcastle disease ranked as the highest cause of morbidity and mortality in chickens in the two countries. The disease occurred mainly during the months coinciding with the dry season in both countries. Other health challenges among poultry flocks included worm infestation, fowl pox, coryza, and coccidiosis. Producers, especially in rural locations, had poor access to veterinary services and critical inputs necessary for poultry production. In the Northern region of Ghana, producers lacked definitive diagnoses for sick poultry due to a shortage of veterinary personnel and diagnostic laboratories.DiscussionThese challenges point to the need for increased investment in poultry disease control and prevention programs, particularly in rural areas. Interventions focused on expansion of veterinary and agricultural extension services and diagnostic laboratory capacity in rural areas and increased gender-sensitive training to enhance smallholder knowledge in poultry husbandry and disease prevention measures will support the development of the smallholder village poultry systems. Tapping into the diverse genetic reservoir of local chicken ecotypes with enhanced resistance to Newcastle disease through genomic selection, coupled with models for enhancing ND vaccination supply and use in the rural areas are potential future avenues for addressing ND constraints to production.

The impact of management practices on the disease and mortality rates of broilers and layers kept by small-scale farmers in Dodoma urban district, Tanzania

“…The study was conducted from March to May 2023, which was a rainy season. Since the occurrence of chicken diseases may vary between months of the year due to different weather patterns [ 80 ], we recommend further study that will consider seasonal patterns of diseases.…”

Plants used for ethnoveterinary treatment of free-range indigenous chicken diseases in Ghana

“…In rural Ghana, almost all households keep free-range poultry (Aning, 2006;Ouma et al 2023). The prevalence of parasites, bacterial, and viral pathogens is higher in free-range compared to the intensively managed poultry production system in Ghana (Mensah-Kumi, 2017;Asumang et al 2019).…”

“…The prevalence of parasites, bacterial, and viral pathogens is higher in free-range compared to the intensively managed poultry production system in Ghana (Mensah-Kumi, 2017;Asumang et al 2019). However, access to veterinary services is constrained by the remoteness of most rural settlements (Enahoro et al, 2021;Ouma et al 2023). Ethnoveterinary practice is a widely used method for the treatment of poultry ailments in Ghana (Turkson & Naandam, 2002;Aboe et al 2006b;Adomako, 2009;Blackie, 2014b;Avornyo et al 2016;Ouma et al 2023).…”

“…However, access to veterinary services is constrained by the remoteness of most rural settlements (Enahoro et al, 2021;Ouma et al 2023). Ethnoveterinary practice is a widely used method for the treatment of poultry ailments in Ghana (Turkson & Naandam, 2002;Aboe et al 2006b;Adomako, 2009;Blackie, 2014b;Avornyo et al 2016;Ouma et al 2023). In the Ashanti region, for instance, Adomako (2009) found that 70 percent of people rearing free-range poultry rely on ethnoveterinary medication to prevent and control diseases.…”