Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution and characteristics of poultry farms in Enugu State, Nigeria after the 2007 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Structured questionnaire, interview, and physical enumeration and measurements were used to collect data on number of farms, farm capacity, farm location, type of bird reared, and socio-economic attributes of farmers. Data collected were analyzed and results presented using descriptive statistics (means ± SEM). Local Government Areas were rated according to their level of urbanization (scale: 1-5) and this was correlated with number of farms, farm capacity, and number of birds in stock. A total of 384 farms were enumerated during the study, out of which 43 (11.2%) were large scale (≥ 5,000 bird capacity); 57 (14.9%) medium scale (2000-5000 birds); 229 (59.6%) small scale (250-1900 birds) and 55 (14.3%) backyard (< 250 birds). Local Government Areas differed significantly (P Ë‚ 0.05) in level of urbanization. Most large and medium scale farms were associated with ‘very’ urban and urban LGAs while most small and backyard farms were located in ‘rural’ LGAs. For most farms, birds in stock accounted for over 60% of calculated farm capacity, and differences between farm capacity and birds in stock were less for medium, small and backyard farms compared to large scale farms. Backyard, small and medium scale poultry farms accounted for over 80% of poultry farms in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Key words: Poultry farms, distribution, characteristics, Enugu State.