INCIDENCE OF COMMON POULTRY DISEASES IN SELECTED POULTRY FARMS IN OWERRI NORTH AND OWERRI WEST FROM 2013 – 2017

Abstract

Poultry diseases remain one of the major threats to poultry production in Nigeria. A survey on common poultry diseases was carried out in Owerri North and West Local Government Areas of Imo State. The incidences of the following diseases; Newcastle disease, Infectious bursal disease, Coccidiosis, Fowl typhoid and Chronic Respiratory disease were investigated in five selected poultry farms in the two Local Government Areas. The farms were Lambert Farms and Engrobic Farms in Owerri West, Odimara Farms, Ben and Baba Khojo Farms and Chiawuotu Farms in Owerri North for the period of January 2013 - December 2017. Data were collected on percentage mortality rates of each disease. The prevalence of Coccidiosis was slightly higher than other diseases investigated. Newcastle disease recorded 30.35% of the total percentage mortality, Infectious bursal disease recorded 14.93%, Coccidiosis recorded 30.85%, Fowl typhoid recorded 9.45% and Chronic Respiratory disease recorded 14.43%. It was observed that most of the poultry diseases occurred mostly in these areas during the rainy season of the year. Most of the poultry farmers in these areas were male and within the age range of 32 – 50 years. Poor management, improper vaccine handling and self-medication practiced by the poultry farmers coupled with harsh weather conditions and inadequate diagnostic facilities may be responsible for the distribution pattern recorded. It
is therefore imperative for poultry farmers to institute and intensify appropriate biosecurity measures on how to minimize the emergence and transmission if these diseases.