HEALTH CONSTRAINTS IN SMALL SCALE CHICKEN PRODUCTION IN ETHIOPIA 63 Major health constraints and ethno-veterinary practices of small scale and backyard chicken production in some selected regions of Ethiopia A. MESKEREM* Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT RÉSUMÉ This study was conducted with the aim of assessing major health constraints Contraintes majeurs pour la santé et pratiques ethno-vétérinaires dans la facing the small scale and backyard chicken producers and ethno-vet production familiale et à petite échelle de poulets dans certaines régions practices exercised in 5 regions of the country: Amhara (Debre Brehan and d’Éthiopie Kombolcha zones), Benishangul Gumuz (Assosa zone), Oromia (Haromaya and Jimma zones), Southern region (Hawassa zuria and Yergalem zones) Cette étude a été menée dans le but d’évaluer les principales contraintes and Tigray (Mekele zone). A total of 162 household respondents involved sanitaires et les pratiques ethno-vétérinaires lors de la production familiale in small scale and backyard chicken production (20 households in each et à petite échelle de poulets dans 5 régions d’Ethipie: Amhara (Debre zone) were purposively selected and interviewed. Data were collected Brehan et zones de Kombolcha), Benishangul Gumuz (zone d’Assosa), through pre-testing, semi-structural questionnaires and field observation. Oromia (Haromaya et zones de Jimma), région du Sud (zones de Hawassa The overall frequency of diseases reported as the main health constraint Zuria et Yergalem) et Tigray (zone de Mekele). Au total, 162 producteurs ont affecting chicken production in the study areas were, Newcastle disease participé à l’enquête (20 dans chaque zone). Les données ont été recueillies (64%), followed by gastro intestinal infection (34%), respiratory syndrome par pré-test, questionnaires semi-structurels et observation sur le terrain. (22%), internal and external parasites (16%), coccidiosis (15%) and fowl La fréquence globale des maladies signalées comme principale contrainte pox (5%). Newcastle disease is the most severe infectious disease reported. de santé affectant la production de poulet dans les zones d’étude étaient, la Majority of village chicken household respondents had no awareness how to maladie de Newcastle (64%), suivie des infections gastro-intestinales (34%), manage village chicken diseases (91.5%) and their flocks were not vaccinated des syndromes respiratoires (22%), parasites internes et externes (16%), (84%). High disease occurrence reported in long rainy season (59%). Ethno- coccidiose (15%) et variole (5%). La maladie de Newcastle est la maladie vet practice was experienced by the majority of the interviewed households infectieuse la plus grave signalée. La majorité des personnes enquêtées (51.9%). A total of 19 medicinal plants were reported as being used locally ne savaient pas comment gérer les maladies (91,5%) et leurs animaux for the treatment of various chicken diseases as a traditional medicine. The n’étaient pas vaccinés (84%). L’incidence des maladies est rapportée plus main causes of losses were identified as disease (67%) and predator attack forte pendant la saison pluvieuse (59%). La plupart des ménages interrogés (32%). Poor disease prevention and control and the lack of knowledge, utilisaient la médecine traditionnelle pour le traitement de leurs animaux management skills and provision of feed, water and, housing, were the major (51,9%). Au total, 19 plantes médicinales ont été déclarées comme étant constraints of poultry production in the study areas. Research and extension utilisées pour le traitement de diverses maladies du poulet. Les principales efforts should be directed at the identified constraints. In order to reduce causes de pertes ont été identifiées comme étant la maladie (67%) et those constraints and to increase rural family chicken production, farmers l’attaque par des prédateurs (32%). La mauvaise prévention et le contrôle des training, improvement of veterinary services and introduction of improved maladies et le manque de connaissances et compétences dans la gestion et la vaccines are important. fourniture de nourriture, d’eau et de logement, étaient les autres facteurs les plus importants dans les contraintes de production. Ces points principaux Key words: Chicken, Constraints, Ethno-Vet Practices, devraient faire l’objet d’amélioration dans le but de réduire les contraintes et augmenter la production familiale de poulets en Ethiopie. Small-scale, Backyard Mots clefs : Poulet, Production familiale, Risque sanitaire, Pratiques traditionnelles, Plantes médicinales, Ethiopie Introduction and 0.8 percent are indigenous, hybrid and exotic chickens, respectively. From these, 99% are raised under the traditional Poultry is an important farm species in almost all backyard system of management, while 1% is under intensive countries of the world. It is a source of essential animal management system [2, 13]. More than 98% of total meat and protein, and can be raised under situations with limited egg production comes from village poultry [14, 17]. However, feed and housing resources. Chickens are ‘waste converters’ the contribution of village chickens to farm households that convert a scavenged feed resource into animal protein. and rural economies is not proportional compared to their Poultry is also the most important species for generating high numbers. This is mainly due to low productivity levels income for poor peri-urban and rural households [19]. and poor management systems. There are also different According to the agricultural sample survey report of Central constraints in the village chicken production systems. These Statistical Authority [3] of 2014, the total chicken population include diseases, poor management, poor growth rates, in Ethiopia is estimated at about 51 million, of which 96.9, 2.4 predation and lack of organized markets. Parasitic and Revue Méd. Vét., 2017, 167, 1-2, 63-71 64 MESKEREM (A.) other infectious diseases are also common in the tropics Two kebeles per zone with a high density of chickens where the standard of husbandry is poor and yet climatic and with known chicken rearing practices were purposively conditions are favorable for the development of diseases [10, selected in consultation with the respective agricultural 15]. Poultry diseases are considered to be a serious problem development agencies. A total of 162 household respondents for poultry production in Ethiopia. However management involved in small scale and backyard chicken production and health care situations as well as ethno-vet practices are (20 households in each zone) were selected and interviewed. not adequately studied and compiled. The purpose of this Farther information was also collected from individual study was, therefore, to develop a baseline information on observations and through open discussions during the time management and major health constraints of chickens and samples were collected. ethno-vet practices in some selected parts of the country. There are local and exotic chicken breeds available in Materials and methods Ethiopia. Local (indigenous) chicken breeds mostly called by their local name, which are named after the color of their STUDY AREA, STUDY ANIMALS AND SAMPLING METHOD feathers or their location. Exotic chickens are commercial breeds imported to Ethiopia for commercial purpose, either A survey study was conducted in five regional states of layers or broilers. Formerly the exotic ones were kept only Ethiopia. Study regions have relatively high density of chickens in commercial farms with intensive management and the (Fig. 1). Standing from the constraints of human-labor and local or indigenous breeds in backyard or free-range chicken finance, purposive sampling method was been carried out to production systems. Currently, exotic and crossbreds identify zones. Data were collected from a total of 8 zones (exotics with indigenous) are being kept in backyard chicken on representing 5 regions namely: Amhara (Debre Brehan production systems with certain inputs [18]. Based on and Kombolcha), Benishangul Gumuz (Assosa), Oromia the level of bio-security, FAO classifies Ethiopian poultry (Haromaya and Jimma), Southern region (Hawassa area and production systems into three: large commercial poultry Yergalem) and Tigray (Mekele) that are located in different production with “moderate to high biosecurity”, small agro ecologies. Ethiopia has six traditional climatic zones, commercial poultry production with the “low to minimal” defined by altitude and temperature: Bereha (hot lowlands biosecurity and village or backyard production with below 500 meters, in the arid east, crop production is very “minimal biosecurity [5]. limited, in the humid west root crops and maize are largely grown), Kola (lowlands, 500–1,500, sorghum, finger millet, STUDY DESIGN sesame, cowpeas, groundnuts), Woina Dega (midlands, 1,500- 2,300, wheat, teff, barley, maize, sorghum, chickpeas, A structured questionnaire was carefully designed and haricot beans), Dega (highlands, 2300-3200, barley, wheat, administered to selected household respondents (Fig. 2). The highland oilseeds, highland pulses), Wurch (highlands, information inquire included such as; general information, 3200-3700, barley is common), Kur (highland, above 3700, knowledge how to manage chickens, health care, health primarily for grazing). Except Debrebrehan (2636) which is constraints, type