Poultry Studies 2018, Vol 15, Num, 1     (Pages: 006-012)

Effectiveness and Benefits of Biosecurity Practices in Small Scale Broiler Farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

John Oluwatoyin Oluwasusi 1 ,Yewande Olamide Akanni 2 ,Ayodeji Ridwan Sodiq 1

1 Department of Agricultural Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), P.M.B 5454, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Nigeria
2 Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Department of Planning, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Biosecurity practices offer safe and profitable livestock management processes, with potential for sustainability in livestock business and safe human health. Therefore, this study examined the effectiveness and benefits of biosecurity practices among small scale broiler farmers in Ekiti State. Multistage, purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 114 respondents for the study; data were collected using structured interview schedule, analysed with frequency counts, percentages, chi-square and pearson product moment correlation. More than half (53.5%) of the respondents were males (41-50years), married (68.4%). Majority of the producers (86.8%) had a flock size of 1001 to 5000 and 64.0% of them had more than 20 years experience. Many of the respondents recorded high benefits and effectiveness of biosecurity practices in their broiler farming, while exhibition of non-robust biosecurity practice was evident among the broiler farmers. Educational Status (χ 2=34.632), flock size (χ 2=28.337), age (r=0.162) and benefits of biosecurity practices (r=0.187) were significantly related to the effectiveness of biosecurity practices for broiler production. Hence, more robust information on biosecurity practices for broiler production through livestock extension agents should be disseminated to the broiler farmers, using channels of seminar and workshop with the collaboration of poultry association of Nigeria. Keywords : Poultry, Effectiveness, Practices, Benefits, Biosecurity