POULTRY PRODUCTION

 Poultry farming refers to the rearing of domestic fowls especially chickens thus for eggs and meat.

Many different breeds of chickens have been developed for different purposes. These general general categories include:

  1. Laying breeds(layers)

  2. Meat producing breeds(broilers)

  3. Dual purpose breeds

Poultry farming has challenges,the following are some challenges affecting poultry production

1. Parasite and diseases

Parasites and diseases results into loss in egg production as well as quality meat.

Parasites that affect chickens include; tapeworms, roundworms, threadworms and cecal worms. On the other hand,fowl pox, fowl cholera, coccidiosis and Newcastle are common diseases of chickens.

When the environment is dirty, parasites, diseases and infection is inevitable. Birds like chicken are very sensitive to environmental changes. If the poultry environment is not properly taken care of, the chickens will be exposed to parasites and diseases. So as a poultry farmer, you must ensure that the poultry environment is kept clean and disinfected.

When there is an outbreak, it is best to treat them immediately to avoid their production being tampered with. If your rearing birds for maximum production,then make sure you keep them in the best stat possible.

2. Feed problem

This is another challenging facing the poultry production. The growth rate in birds is solely dependent on the type of feeds they are being fed with. Birds require a balanced diet if they are to perform well 

Feeds affect the quality of eggs production. For instance, the quality of eggshells is determined by the level of certain minerals such as vitamin d and calcium.

High quality feed  helps in expansion of poultry production.

 

3. Non availability and affordability of vaccines

This particular challenge mostly affect the small scale poultry farmers unlike the industrial of commercial poultry farmers who can afford the vaccines. In addition to this, vaccines may not be readily available hence prevalent sales of fake ones. Administering fake vaccines to birds can be harmful to their health.

Poultry farmers should always check in through the veterinary doctors before administering drugs to the birds. This will ensure they are being given the right drugs for any situation

Ready access to vaccines and drugs is of great importance in poultry farming.

To have good quality and large quantity of egg and meat production , we therefore need to seek good solutions of any challenge that has been encountered.