International Network for Family Poultry Development

RÉSEAU INTERNATIONAL POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE L'AVICULTURE FAMILIALE

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR FAMILY POULTRY DEVELOPMENT

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10 No. 1 & 2, January – June 2000 BuIletin RIDAF Vol. 10 No. 1 & 2, Janvier – Juin 2000

INFPD Coordinator: Prof. E. Babafunso Sonaiya, Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, E-mail: [email protected] INFPD Newsletter Editor: Dr. E. Fallou Guèye, Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research (ISRA), B.P. 2057, Dakar-Hann, Senegal, E-mail: [email protected] ______

CONTENT Editorial Moving towards higher standards - E.F. Guèye ...... 2 Research & Development Contributions Newcastle disease and parasitosis in family chickens in Southern Chad - A. Maho, N. Boulbaye and J. Etobia ...... 3 Report on the SADC planning workshop on Newcastle disease control in village chickens - M. Young and R.G. Alders...... 9 Rural family poultry in Morocco: case of Khénifra region - K. Benabdeljelil and T. Arfaoui ...... 12 News International Conference on Smallholder Livestock Production Systems in Developing Countries at Thrissur, India ...... 14 Improvements in Rural Poultry in Developing Countries ...... 14 Proceedings of the 1999 Development Workers’ Tune Course ...... 15 Proceedings of an International Workshop on Family Poultry at M’Bour, Senegal ...... 15

______Editorial

Moving towards higher standards E.F. Guèye ISRA, B.P. 2057, Dakar-Hann, Senegal, E-mail: [email protected]

The latest screening of our subscriber list reveals that Development (R&D) in family poultry. Views and there are presently 460 INFPD members from 70 experiences from various workers throughout the countries in 5 continents. Out of these members 74.1 world can also be shared via the newsletter. % are from Africa, 14.7 % from Europe and the Extensive exchange of information can contribute to remaining 11.2 % from South/North America, avoiding unnecessary duplications, repeated errors Asia/Pacific and the Middle East. Only 35.7 % of all and/or waste of time and resources. Moreover, it our members (26.5 % of those working in Africa) should be stressed that INFPD members are also have e-mail facilities. As you know, since our 1997 strongly encouraged to publish contributions dealing General Meeting held at M’Bour, Senegal, our news- with family poultry in other international journals and letter has been produced and sent electronically to to attend and present papers in animal agriculture members, the fact remains that hard copies will con- conferences, workshops and symposia. This will help tinue to be send by airmail to members without e-mail to widely disseminate relevant information about this facilities. critical, but generally overlooked poultry sub-sector. As the e-mail is a low-cost, fast and reliable way of Moving towards higher standards for our newsletter communication, INFPD members are strongly invited requires the full co-operation of our members in their to have e-mail addresses, whenever possible. This willingness to report their R&D work. Submissions will make our work easier. Furthermore, the impres- should be in English, French or Spanish. They should sive dynamism of the network is mainly due to the be send as attached files to the editor. When sent by strong commitment of a few of its members. As a airmail, authors should supply a floppy diskette, result of this, it is rewarding to notice that the key specifying the software used. Two types of manu- role of family poultry in improving livelihoods of scripts can be considered for publication. They are poor people in low-income food-deficit countries is original articles (e.g. see article by Maho et al., in being more recognised by NGOs, international aid this issue) and reports (e.g. see report by Young and agencies and donors. Issues relating to family poultry Alders, in this issue). research are also being more addressed by scientists. Original articles must include in the order: title; This does not mean that we can slack off now in our name, postal and e-mail address(es) of authors; ab- work. We should rather step up our efforts. stract of between 100 and 250 words; keywords (up With this in view, we do hope that more members to 8); introduction (including literature review); ma- will actively contribute to the life of our network, for terials and methods; results; discussion (‘results and example, by reporting, through the INFPD Newslet- discussion’ can also be presented together); conclu- ter, their results (successes obtained, but also failures sions; references and tables. The translation of the experienced with possible reasons) in Research and abstract in one of the two other languages is required.

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 2 With regard to reports, their headings depend on the author(s). The newsletter editor reserves the right to I look forward to receiving your contributions! shorten, edit or otherwise alter contributions. ______Research & Development Contributions

Newcastle disease and parasitosis in family chickens in Southern Chad A. Maho, N. Boulbaye and J. Etobia Laboratoire de Recherches Vétérinaires et Zootechniques de Farcha, B.P. 433, N’Djaména, Tchad, E-mail: [email protected] [Article translated from the original French - ED]

ABSTRACT A survey was carried out in December 1999 in three over, the survey revealed that parasitosis does not pilot villages of Southern Chad. The investigation constitute a serious problem for poultry keepers. It revealed that Newcastle disease does exist, causes was found out that the setting-up of a well-designed high mortality and discourages poultry keepers whose vaccination programme is required. This will then only wish is to have means of control. The outbreak contribute to improving living conditions of human time (October–March) corresponds to the time during population in Southern Chad. which intense economic exchanges are made. More-

Key words: Chad, chicken, Newcastle disease, parasitosis

INTRODUCTION Throughout the world, poultry are the most numerous and/or to cope with socio-cultural obligations. In- species of farm animals. The importance of this pro- deed, poultry and the proceeds from their sale are duction and its contribution to supplying the human used to purchase clothes (5-19%), medicines (5-6%), population with animal protein vary from a country soap (3-10%), supplies during times of food scarcity or a continent to another (Smith, 1992; Permin and (2-27%), kitchen salt (3-6%), as special banquets for Hansen, 1998). In developing countries, poultry are distinguished family guests (15-23%) and during farm generally raised under traditional extensive husbandry work (5-8%) (Maho, 2000). Persistent complaints of systems (IEMVT, 1978; Oriol, 1987; Huque, 1999), veterinary services staff concerning avian diseases are semi-industrial poultry being practised only in recorded at the livestock directorate. A survey was N’Djaména, the capital-city of Chad. conducted by the ‘Laboratoire de Recherches In Southern Chad, although family poultry is prac- Vétérinaires et Zootechniques de Farcha’ in order to tised, it is considered as a secondary activity. Yet it assess the health situation. The article gives the re- contributes to covering various expenses of farmers sults of this survey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS A survey was carried out in three villages, represent- out of seven villages situated in Southern Chad. The ing three pilot locations (Ngoko, Tchanar and Djoy) INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 3 seven village locations are pilot sites of the ‘Institut morning, irrespective of their age and their sex. Tchadien de Recherches Agronomiques pour le These faeces were introduced into formalin at 10 Développement’, chosen by the project ‘Pole Ré- percent held in tubes of 60 ml. Blood samplings were gional de Recherche Appliquée au Développement carried out on adult chickens, irrespective of sex, at des Savanes d’Afrique Centrale’ (PRASAC) depend- the wing vein using a venoject needle and a dry tube. ing on different problems encountered in the sudanian Blood was let clot during one hour and serum poured zone (absence or presence of available land, soil into an empty tube then put in a refrigerated room. fertility, soil erosion, livestock flock size and the Samplings were transported and analysed in the La- mobility of animal farmers). The survey was per- boratoire de Farcha. A total of 60 faeces samples and formed using direct interviews on existing diseases, 27 serums were analysed. the time of their occurrence, the treatment(s) applied and the results obtained. Faeces were sieved then observed directly under a photonic microscope. Faeces samples were examined Thirty percent of poultry keepers in each location, at 4x, 10x and 40x magnification. Identification of randomly selected from a beforehand established list, parasites was based on morphological examination of were interviewed. Thus, 22, 38 and 17 poultry keep- adult parasites, of larval forms and of eggs (Troncy, ers were interviewed in Ngoko, Tchanar and Djoy, 1977; Permin and Hansen, 1998). The ELISA respectively. During this survey, sick or dead chick- IMMUNOCOMB kit in solid phase (trivalent for ens were collected. They were clinically examined, Newcastle disease, Gumboro disease and infectious then autopsies were carried out on dead birds. Faeces bronchitis, and bivalent for Mycoplasma synoviae and and blood samplings were also performed on healthy Mycoplasma gallisepticum) were used to detect and birds. Faeces of birds were collected in the early titrate serum antibodies against corresponding germs.

RESULTS Newcastle disease Findings of poultry farmers Respiratory signs, whitish diarrhoea, infection of ing of the disease within a village occurs through chickens of all ages and high mortality were men- contacts such as birds-birds, birds-inhabitants, birds- tioned by poultry farmers (Table 1). Nervous signs waste, died birds-dogs-live birds. The disease lasts were not evoked. These symptoms are characteristic about one month within a household and more than of Newcastle disease. The local name of the disease one month or even one year within the village. Dis- depends on the most pronounced sign observed by ease persistence within a household depends on type poultry keepers. Thus, it is called ‘pout-poutna’ of poultry house and number of flocks, while, in a (stark diarrhoea) in Ngoko, ‘dingue’ (diarrhoea) in village, it depends on the overall village flock size Tchanar and ‘fain’ (sneeze) in Ndjoy. and village size. The more village and flock are large-sized, the longer disease lasts. Interviewed persons claim that the disease comes from a market or a neighbouring village, resulting from the purchase of an infected chicken. The spread-

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 4

Table 1: Characteristics of Newcastle disease Characteristic of the disease Village Ngoko Tchanar Ndjoy Number of surveyed poultry farmers 22 38 17 Presence of the disease 18 31 17 Signs of the disease Whitish diarrhoea 20 (90.9 %) 22 (57.9 %) 14 (82.4 %) Red diarrhoea 0 1 0 Green diarrhoea 0 1 0 Respiratory difficulties 12 (54.5 %) 16 (42.1 %) 14 (82.4%) Nasal discharge 12 (54.5 %) 16 (42.1 %) 14 (82.4 %) Cough 2 (9.1 %) 8 (21.1 %) 3 (17.6 %) Nervous signs 0 0 0 Only adult birds are affected 0 0 0 Only young birds are affected 0 12 (31.6 %) 0 Adults and young birds are affected 18 (81.8 %) 32 (84.2 %) 17 (100.0 %) Mortality (%) 50-90 85 100 Duration of the disease within households 3-5 days 3 (13.6 %) 10 (26.3 %) 3 (17.6 %) One week 0 12 (31.6 %) 0 2-4 weeks 19 (86.4 %) 15 (39.5 %) 10 (58.8 %) Duration within the village One month 15 (68.2 %) 18 (47.4 %) 0 More than one month 0 0 12 (70.6 %) One year 5 (22.5 %) 0 0 Period of outbreak January 10 (45.5 %) 21 (55.3 %) 0 February 0 10 (26.3 %) 0 March 3 (13.6 %) 6 (15.8 %) 0 April 1 (4.5 %) 0 0 Mai 1 (4.5 %) 0 1 (5.9 %) June 0 0 0 July 0 0 0 August 0 0 2 (11.8 %) September 0 0 0 October 3 (13.6 %) 0 9 (52.9 %) November 6 (27.3 %) 4 (10.5 %) 3 (17.6 %) December 15 (68.2 %) 21 (55.3 %) 0

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 5

November, December and January are principal favouring the occurrence of the epidemic is the cold months during which this disease breaks out (Table and windy weather conditions. In the absence of 1). They correspond to the time of harvests, feasts, vaccination and health support, poultry farmers use intense economic exchanges, cold and windy weather many pharmaceutical products (Nivaquine, Tetracy- conditions. According to poultry keepers, it is during cline) and traditional pharmacopoeia (maceration of this time that they have possibilities of selling or plant leaves, of barks and of roots). buying chickens easily. For some of them, the factor

Complementary investigations Six sick birds sacrificed and examined showed respi- During the serological analyse, the presence of anti- ratory difficulties, whitish diarrhoea, general conges- bodies against Newcastle disease was detected in 3 tion of organs and petechy of the proventriculus out of 14 samplings in Ngoko, 3 out of 12 in Tchanar membrane. These signs are those of Newcastle dis- and 1 out of 2 in Djoy. This demonstrates that the ease. disease is endemic.

Parasitosises Findings of poultry farmers Agas persicus was mentioned by only three persons as no endoparasite was reported. ectoparasite causing high mortality in birds, whereas

Complementary investigations Faeces samplings were conducted only in Ngoko and Ngoko and in Tchanar, eight species of parasites of Tchanar. They were not carried out in Djoy, because the digestive tract were observed (Table 2). Numbers of lack of chickens, birds being eliminated by the of cestodes and nematodes were equal. Only few disease before the beginning of the sampling. In coccidia were observed (Table 2).

Table 2: Encountered parasites of the digestive tract Identified parasites Village [Number of samplings] Ngoko [36] Tchanar [18] Ascaris gallinarum 2 (5.6 %) 3 (16.7 %) Davainea proglotina 1 (2.7 %) 3 (16.7 %) Eimeria sp. 4 (11.1 %) 1 (5.6 %) Hartetia gallinarum 4 (11.1 %) 4 (22.2 %) Hymenolepis carioca 2 (5.6 %) 2 (11.1%) Raillietina tetragona 3 (8.3 %) 1 (5.6 %) Trichomonas spp. 1 (2.7 %) 0 Strongyloides avium 2 (5.6 %) 2 (11.1 %) Syngamus trachea 0 1 (5.6 %)

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 6

DISCUSSION Newcastle disease, known throughout the world as and infect then their chicks. the first plague of chickens, is also prevalent in Northern Chad. It causes mortality rates of between Disease persistence within households depends on 65 and 100 percent. This is consistent with the value flock size and type of poultry house. Within a village, reported by Guèye (1999a). Thus, every year it dis- it depends on distance between households, village courages poultry farmers from keeping poultry. It size and the overall village flock size. The more the occurs in an epidemic manner from November to distance between households is long, the less serious January. During this time, intense economic ex- infections between neighbouring chickens are. The changes are made in rural areas. It corresponds to the disease will then spread through contacts with human time of harvests, feasts of the end of the year, cold beings, and its persistence may be long-lasting. The and windy weather conditions. This period of out- more households are close each other, the more seri- break is also reported for West Africa (Sa’idu, 1994; ous infections between chickens are. The disease Guèye, 1999a). overruns quickly households and then the whole village. Thus, its persistence is short. In contrast, in Eastern Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia), outbreaks are observed during the rainy sea- The rate of seropositivity was low, probably because son (Guèye, 1999a). Economic activities seem to be of the virulence of the existing virus strains. This rate the determining factor with regard to Newcastle dis- was noted in Guéra, region situated in the North-east ease outbreaks. Cold and windy weather conditions of N’Djaména (Maho et al., 1999). Poultry farmers might be favouring factors whose effects depend on use all kinds of traditional products based on plant poultry house and distance between households. roots, leaves and barks. Guèye (1999a,b) reported that such therapies are practised in other African Newcastle disease is generally introduced into vil- countries. Poultry farmers wish to vaccine their lages through infected chickens bought in markets. chickens, but they are constrained by the non- The disease spreads then within villages through availability and inaccessibility of vaccines. The vac- contacts such as chickens-chickens, chickens- cination is yet the only efficacious means of strug- inhabitants, died chickens-dogs-live chickens, etc. It gling against Newcastle disease (Spradbrow et al., can, during its first outbreak, kill off all chickens, 1988; Aini et al., 1990; Alders and Fringe, 1999). except for some broody hens that have a solitary life in remote and hidden places (i.e. under the beds, Parasitosis was not cited by poultry farmers as a behind the drinking water containers, etc.). This major problem. Nevertheless, it should not be ne- solitary life enables them to escape from the first glected because it can lead to high mortalities without outbreak. But when the disease breaks out again, farmers’ knowledge. Twenty-six percent of mortality these broody hens whose chicks oblige to be aggres- rate due to endoparasitism and 31.1 percent to ecto- sive and to actively look for feeds can get infected parasitism were reported in Nigeria (Guèye, 1999a).

CONCLUSIONS Poultry farming contributes significantly to improving livelihoods in rural households. Mortality in poultry

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 7 leads to serious problems every year in Southern other avian diseases. The success of such a pro- Chad and contributes to worsen poverty and malnutri- gramme depends on the type of vaccine and its ad- tion. In order to overcome this obstacle, it is neces- ministration route as well as the adoption of the pro- sary to set up a suitable vaccination programme gramme by poultry farmers. against Newcastle disease as well as a surveillance of

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Financial support provided by the project ‘Pôle Ré- des Savanes d’Afrique Centrale’ (PRASAC) to enable gional de Recherche Appliquée au Développement the survey is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES Aini I. (1999): Disease in rural family chicken in South Asia. First INFPD/FAO Electronic Conference on Family Poultry (Guèye, E.F., Ed.), (www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/en/infpd/documents/econf_scope/paper2.html) Aini I., Ibrahim, A.L. & Spradbrow, P.B. (1990): Field trial of food-based vaccine to protect village chicken against Newcastle. Res. Vet. Sci. 49(2): 216-219 Alders, R.G. & Fringe, R. (1999): The use of thermostable Newcastle disease vaccines in Mozambique. First INFPD/FAO Electronic Conference on Family Poultry (Guèye, E.F., Ed.), (not available on Internet) IEMVT (1978): Situation actuelle et possibilités de développement en République du Tchad. Rapport, Minis- tère de la Coopération Française, Paris, France. Guèye, E.F. (1999a): Disease control using ethnoveterinary medicine. World Poultry 15(7): 43-51 Guèye, E.F. (1999b): Ethnoveterinary medicine against poultry diseases in African villages. World’s Poultry Science Journal 55(2): 187-198 Huque, Q.M.E. (1999): Nutritional status of family poultry in Bangladesh. First INFPD/FAO Electronic Con- ference on Family Poultry (Guèye, E.F., Ed.), (www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/en/infpd/documents/econf_scope/add_paper14.html) Maho, A. (2000): Contrainte au développement de l’aviculture dans la zone méridionale du Tchad: Cas des terroirs Ngoko, Tchanar et Djoy. Rapport technique, Laboratoire de Farcha, N’Djaména, Tchad Maho, A., Ndobale, B. & Mbeurnodji, L. (1997): Dominantes pathologiques aviaires dans les banlieues de N’Djaména: Cas de quinze fermes. Revue Élev. Méd. vét. Pays trop. 50(4): 277-280 Maho, A., Mopate, L.Y., Kebkiba, B. & Boulbaye, N. (1999): Enquête sérologique sur quelques maladies aviaires dans la région du nord – Guéra (Tchad). Tropicultura (sous presse) Okoye, J.O.A., Komolafe, O.O. & Amene, B.W. (1989): Outbreak of a typical Newcastle disease in Nige- ria. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa 37: 231-233 Oriol, A. (1987): Elevage rentable des poulets de rapports: Guide pratique. Vicchi S.A., Paris, France Permin, A. & Hansen, J.W. (1998): Epidemiology, diagnosis and control of poultry parasites. FAO, Rome, Italy Ramlah, A.H. (1999): Production aspects of village chicken in the South-East Asian Region. First INFPD/FAO Electronic Conference on Family Poultry (Guèye, E.F., Ed.),

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 8 (www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/en/infpd/documents/econf_scope/paper5.html) Sa’idu, L., Abdu, P.A., Umoh, J.U. & Abdullahi, U.S. (1994): Diseases of Nigerian indigenous chickens. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa 42:19-23 Smith, A.J. (1992): L’élevage de la volaille. ACCT, Paris, France Spradbrow, P.B., Samuel, J.L. & Ibrahim, A.L. (1988): Serological response of chickens to oral vaccination with Newcastle disease virus. Veterinary Microbiology 16(3): 255-262 Troncy, P.M. (1977): Eléments de coproscopie parasitaire en Afrique Noire. Editions Frydes-S.A.R.L., Paris, France

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Report on the SADC planning workshop on Newcastle disease control in village chickens M. Young and R.G. Alders National Veterinary Research Institute, Mozambique

BACKGROUND In developing countries in Africa, Asia and Central tional Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The seed and South America, the keeping of village poultry is material is not under commercial ownership and can a constant backdrop to village life. The flocks contain be made available without cost to countries that wish mostly scavenging chickens which subsist mainly on to investigate local production of ND vaccine for products of the scavenging feed resource base. Flock village use. owners make only small inputs to their charges, and the farming system relies on opportunistic harvesting Widespread application of the vaccine will require of eggs or surviving birds. Almost without cost, the training in-country of administrators, veterinarians, flocks provide eggs and live birds for sale or barter, extension workers and laboratory technicians and the and eggs and poultry meat for human nutrition. Im- use of appropriate, and possibly novel, extension provements in poultry production could improve food techniques. ACIAR has built up a team that is able to security and increase rural incomes, thereby greatly conduct suitable training workshops and has spon- benefiting poor rural communities. In many countries sored workshops in Pretoria and Dar-es-Salaam. aid agencies and NGOs are approaching poultry rear- Other institutions have become interested in ND con- ing (especially chicken rearing) as an activity that will trol projects, and workshops have been held in Ghana specifically benefit the women of the village commu- (World Bank/GRM sponsored), Myanmar (FAO nities. sponsored), Cambodia (FAO) and Bhutan (AusAid - the Australian Agency for International Develop- The single extreme impediment to the production of ment). village chickens in most developing countries is New- castle disease (ND). A thermostable vaccine (I-2) A project implemented by the Mozambican National suitable for use in control of ND in village chickens Veterinary Research Institute (INIVE) and the Aus- has been developed by the University of Queensland, tralian Centre for International Agricultural Research with funding from the Australian Centre for Interna- (ACIAR) has demonstrated the efficacy of the ther-

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 9 mostable NDV4-HR and I-2 vaccines under Mozam- SADC planning workshop on the control of ND in bican conditions. The project has commenced the village chickens. The aim was to bring together rep- development of appropriate information packages that resentatives of the SADC countries and international will enable veterinarians, extension workers and agencies involved in research and development of village chicken farmers to gain the knowledge needed village chickens to discuss options for the control of to successfully control ND on a low-cost basis. To ND within the Southern African region. This work- date, the results of this project have been encouraging shop sought to determine and it is thought that much of the experience gained  Which countries recognise ND as a serious prob- and lessons learnt in this project may be of interest to lem? other Southern African Development Community  Which countries have the will to control ND in (SADC) countries. village chickens? et  Which countries have the facilities and potential Funding from AusAID and ACIAR supported this infrastructure to produce and distribute vaccine?

OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP The workshop was held from 6 to 9 March 2000 in Mozambique in the program, and Maputo, Mozambique. Its objectives were as follows: 2. to determine the opportunities for improving food 1. to provide a situation analysis of ND in the region security of rural people by controlling ND in vil- which will be used to prepare the terms of refer- lage poultry. ence for a project and define the possible role of

PARTICIPANTS Over 60 participants attended the workshop. These ten international agencies (including FAO, DANIDA, participants represented: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, CIRAD, IAEA, and ILRI); and NGOs (VetAID and Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South World Vision). Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe;

WORKSHOP PROGRAM Representatives from each of the twelve SADC coun- Spradbrow, University of Queensland); tries presented a situation analysis of ND, highlight-  The epidemiology of Newcastle disease in com- ing the role of village chickens and sociological as- mercial and village chickens (Prof. Peter Sprad- pects of ND control in their country. brow, University of Queensland);  A review of the advantages and limitations of the The other main papers presented dealt with - different vaccines available for use against New-  An assessment of the social impact of Newcastle castle disease in village chickens (Dr. Jonathan disease control (Ms. Brigitte Bagnol, Mozam- Bell, England); bique);  An introduction to the Co-ordinated Research  The development and use of thermostable vac- Program (CRP) to improve family poultry produc- cines derived from Australian strains of Newcastle tion in Africa initiated by the Joint FAO/IAEA disease virus, strains V4 and I-2 (Prof. Peter Division of the International Atomic Energy

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 10 Agency (Dr. Ron Dwinger, FAO/IAEA); thermostable vaccine (Prof. Tu, Vietnam);  A framework for the impact assessment of disease  The importance of appropriate extension materials control strategies for Newcastle disease (Dr. John and methods, gender issues, community involve- McDermott, ILRI); ment, and cost recovery to sustainable ND control  A review of research into ND control in Senegal (Dr. Robyn Alders, ACIAR); (Dr. Helene Leriche, CIRAD);  The features of the I-2 vaccine and extension  Experiences in the field with the vaccination of materials produced in Mozambique (Dr. Robyn village chickens against ND (Dr. Joaquim Langa Alders, ACIAR); and Dr. Elise Dielman, VetAID, Mozambique);  Research and development efforts in Tanzania  A review of the Bangladesh Smallholder Live- aimed at improving the health and productivity of stock Development Project (Mr. Schleiss, rural chickens (Prof. Minga, Tanzania). DANIDA);  An introduction to village chicken production in The proceedings of the workshop will be published Vietnam and Newcastle disease control with by ACIAR as part of its monograph series.

SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP OUTCOMES Papers presented at the workshop showed that -  Village chicken productivity is an important con- sent ND control strategies and infrastructure for tribution to income and food security of rural the production and delivery of ND vaccines. people;  ND is the single major constraint to village poul- After country situation papers were presented, small try productivity in most SADC countries; group discussions consolidated ‘Lessons Learnt’ and  ND in village poultry can be controlled through ‘Options for a Future ND Control Strategy’. The the use of suitable, inexpensive, locally produced outcomes of these discussions are summarised below: and tested vaccines;  Countries in the region vary in their commitment to village poultry research and development, pre-

LESSONS LEARNT 1. ND is an important cause of direct and indirect 5. ND control through a network of trained commu- loss of chickens and a constraint to village chicken nity vaccinators, selected by local leaders and productivity in countries of the SADC region. community groups, is the best option for vaccine 2. Suitable thermostable vaccines can be produced delivery to end users. with limited laboratory facilities in participating 6. Village chickens are an important resource, espe- SADC countries or region. cially for women and children. 3. Distribution of vaccines and delivery to end-users 7. Husbandry techniques of village chickens need to is a constraint and must be improved. be improved to maximise benefits from the con- 4. Surveillance of ND is required in order to target trol of ND. vaccination campaigns, and to monitor and evalu- 8. Improved marketing structures for village chick- ate ND control programs. ens and their products are required to maximise

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 11 the benefits from the ND control.

OPTIONS FOR ND CONTROL IN THE SADC REGION 1. A common regional strategy is required. Govern- mechanisms must be put in place to ensure sus- ment policy and decision makers, and NGOs must tainability of the ND control program. be convinced of the importance of village chicken 5. The success of the ND control program depends production. on effective extension to promote vaccination, 2. Vaccine production could be undertaken at re- train community vaccinators and ensure ‘owner- gional or country level, but the decision should be ship’ of the program by local and community a country responsibility. groups. 3. Quality assurance of ND vaccines should be a regional responsibility. 4. Users should pay for vaccines, and cost recovery

CONCLUSION Workshop participants were requested to contribute to 2001. the formulation of Terms of Reference (TOR) for the preparation of a feasibility and design study for a The enthusiasm of the participants and their willing- project to assist SADC countries to improve ND ness to share their experiences openly were a feature control to be supported by AusAID. The feasibility of the workshop. This spirit of co-operation bodes and design study commenced in June 2000, and it is well for ongoing activities in the region. hoped that the regional project will commence by mid

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the support given the Australian Agency for International Development by Dr. M. Fanikiso (SADC Livestock Sector Co- and Australian Centre for International Agricultural ordinator) and the staff of the Mozambican National Research for their support of this workshop. Veterinary Research Institute. Many thanks go also to

FURTHER INFORMATION Dr. Robyn Alders or Dr. Mary Young, National Veterinary Research Institute, C.P. 1922, Maputo, Mozambique, Tel: +258-1-475171, Fax: +258-1-415201 or 475172, Mobile telephone: +258-82-306513, E-mail: [email protected] Improvements in Rural Poultry in Developing Countries, Website: www.vsap.uq.edu.au/ruralpoultry

Rural family poultry in Morocco: case of Khénifra region K. Benabdeljelil* and T. Arfaoui Animal Production Department, Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II, B.P. 6202, Rabat-Institutes, 10101 Rabat, Morocco, *E-mail: [email protected]

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 12 An extensive survey was conducted aiming to charac- such as bamboo, wood, plastic screens, etc.) were terize rural family poultry farming in Morocco in used. Birds spent the night in most cases on trees, in order to determine the main constraints to its devel- barns, around the households, on roofs, in sheep- opment and suggest practical improvement means. A folds, etc. Rural poultry scavenged in and around the preliminary study was carried out in the region of compound of households. Distributed supplementary Khénifra, located in the Middle Atlas Mountains. The feeds (i.e. wheat bran, barley, wheat, corn, com- results of “training reports” of enquiries made in the pound feed, dry bread and kitchen leftovers) are region during 1986 (27 villages) and in 1993 (39 mostly locally available (25 to 95 % of cases). Feed villages) were summarised prior to the investigation. resources scavenged by birds include cereal grains, One hundred and six households in 3 villages have insects, worms and various herbs. About 94 % of the been surveyed involving a total of 768 inhabitants surveyed farmers supply their birds with water com- (out of which 222 non-residents). Each household ing from wells (61%) or natural springs (49%). owned on average 5.8 hectares in this region (with a large variation: 0 to 11 ha) and had 5 persons. Sexual maturity is reached at about 154 and 168 days Women represented 49% of the population. for roosters and hens, and around 217 and 231 days for turkey toms and hens, respectively. Age at first Rural poultry farming was essentially a women busi- egg averaged 5.8 months for hens and 8.4 months for ness, 73% of the flocks being managed by women. It turkeys hens. Sixty nine days were observed on aver- represented their main activity in 58% of the cases. age between laying cycles. Number of clutches per Other women’s activities were weaving (21%), rab- year amounted to 2 to 3, and hatchability rates bits raising (15%), ruminants husbandry (5%) and reached 78% for chickens and 80% for turkeys. Se- bee keeping (1%). Fifty four percent of the birds in lection of eggs for incubation was based on hen per- the flocks were hatched on the farms while 46% were formance, body size, egg size and colour and the bought mostly from the weekly rural markets. Poultry presence or absence of males in the flocks. Number were the most predominant domestic animals raised of laying hens varied from 0 to 5 per household. Hen on the farms with flock size ranging from 0 to 58. laid eggs all around the year with however a peak in spring (39%) and summer (22% of the households). The local birds, called “Beldi”, were characterized The number of eggs produced was 78 per hen and 69 by a wide genetic variability. Each household owned per turkey hen. High mortality was recorded as a on average 11 chickens and/or 9 turkeys. Sex-ratio result of diseases and predators (mortality rates was 4.6 females to a male in chicken flocks and 1.7 reached up to 77%). for turkeys. Plumage colours were black, brown or grey, rarely white in chickens while turkeys were Eggs, chicks and adult birds are obtained sometimes predominantly bronze. Feathering was mostly regu- through purchase or exchange. The purchase oc- lar; 3.1% of the birds had naked neck and single curred in the souk (weekly market) or within the comb were frequently observed. village itself, mainly during spring (64 %). Home consumption (in 48% of the surveyed households) and Rudimentary housing was available for poultry in sales (52%) were the main utilizations of local poul- 79% of the households (an increased ratio compared try products. A rural household consumed on average to 64% in 1986 and 71% in 1993). Local materials 16 chickens and/or 11 turkeys per year. Sales of

INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 13 poultry products took place in the rural markets every ings and the occurrence of diseases are the major week. Average prices varied between 54 and 62 Dir- constraints to the development of rural poultry pro- hams for a rooster and from 34 to 43 Dirhams per duction. Several improvement interventions were hen. Turkeys prices were 95 to 133 Dirhams per tom recommended such as the distribution of rearing and 69 to 93 Dirhams per hen. (10 Dirhams = 1 US equipment (feeders, waterers, etc.), the extension Dollar.) simple housings constructed by using local materials, the extension of appropriate production techniques, in This study revealed that uncontrolled cross-breedings, particular by targeting women. traditional production techniques, rudimentary hous-

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International Conference on Smallholder Livestock Production Systems in Developing Countries at Thrissur, India

An ‘International Conference on Smallholder Live- Smallholder Production Systems and Management; stock Production Systems in Developing Countries: S2. Livestock as a Source of Energy; S3. Animal Opportunities and Challenges’ will take place at Ker- Health; S4. Environmental and Social Dimensions ala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala State, and Planning; and S5. Economics of Smallholder India, from 24 to 27 November 2000. The objective Livestock Production. Abstract and paper submission: of the conference is to look at the constraints and Abstracts up to 250 words by 30-06-2000; Invited limitations faced by the smallholder livestock pro- papers (Mini review 10-15 pages) by 30-09-2000; ducer; the challenges the system face in the next 20 Contributory/Poster papers by 30-09-2000. Registra- years and the opportunities in this sector to improve tion fees are Rs. 2,000.00 for Indian participants; and livestock production and provide gainful employment US$ 250.00 for participants from abroad. to the generally under-employed rural masses in developing countries. Information related to the technical programme, panel discussion, poster presentation, accommodation and The Conference, which has English as working lan- transportation, banking facilities, etc. can be obtained guage, will be structured upon five symposia: S1. from the Conference Co-ordinator:

Prof. Dr. C.K. Thomas, Conference Co-ordinator, Director (Academic & P.G. Studies), Kerala Agricultural University, KAU P.O. Box 680 656, Thrissur, Kerala, India, Tel. (+91) 487 371869, (R) 370445, 370051; Fax: (+91) 487 370019, 370388; E-mail: [email protected]

Improvements in Rural Poultry in Developing Countries

A website on rural poultry has been put up by the Queensland. The website aims at providing people Australian Centre for International Agricultural Re- interested in rural poultry (i.e. farmers, researchers, search (ACIAR) and monitored by the University of INFPD Newsletter Vol. 10, No. 1 & 2 14 extensionists, educators, planners, policy makers, This will help to solve problems. staff of international agencies and donors, etc.) with relevant information about all aspects of rural family Some sections of the website are under construction. poultry production systems. It is an opportunity to Contributions relating to all aspects of rural family interact with other people with similar interests, to poultry production systems are welcome and can be exchange views and experiences as well as results sent to: obtained by various workers throughout the world. E-mail: [email protected] Improvements in Rural Poultry in Developing Countries Website: www.vsap.uq.edu.au/ruralpoultry

Proceedings of the 1999 Development Workers’ Tune Course

The proceedings of the Development Workers’ Tune 26 March 1999 in Tune, Denmark, are now avail- Course on ‘Poultry as a Tool in Poverty Eradication able. and Promotion of Gender Equality’ held from 22 to

Editors of the proceedings and contact persons: Drs. Frands Dolberg* and Poul Henning Petersen** *University of Aarhus, Novembervej 17, 8210 Aarhus V, Denmark, E-mail: [email protected] **Institute for Animal Science and Animal Health, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Grønnegårdsvej 3, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark, E-mail: [email protected]

The proceedings are also available on the Internet at: www.husdyr.kvl.dk/htm/php/tune99/index.htm

Proceedings of an International Workshop on Family Poultry at M’Bour, Senegal

INFPD organised an international workshop from 9 economics, genetics, breeding and molecular biology to 13 December 1997 at M’Bour, Senegal. Forty of family poultry. The workshop proceedings are now papers and reports were presented, and they re- available. The book is recommended to scientists, sponded to the theme: ‘Data Requirements for Family researchers, development workers, tertiary level Poultry Development’. Forty experts in various scien- teachers and students interested in having and using tific disciplines from 28 countries in 5 continents the latest results in poultry development and research. presented papers on health, nutrition, socio-

Editor of the proceedings and contact person: Prof. E. Babafunso Sonaiya, Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, E-mail: [email protected]

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