CHAPTER
ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     
Background
of the study

The
survival of rural poultry industry in developing countries depends to a large
extent on the type of rearing methods employed and seasonal changes in weather
conditions. In nearly all African countries, poultry production in rural areas
is predominantly based on a free-range system utilizing indigenous types of
fowl, (Kitalyi, 1998; Horst, 1988). The system is characterized with family
ownership of the birds. Then birds are then left to scavenge to meet their
nutritional needs. The feed resources vary depending on local conditions and
the farming system. Housing may or may not be provided, (Huchzermeyer, 1973;
Atunbi and Sonaiya, 1994; Kuit, Traore and Wilson, 1986). Where housing is
provided, usually local materials are used for construction. Low productivity
is the main feature of this production system, which can be attributed to low
genetic potential, poor disease control programmes and poor feeding. Recently,
the highly infectious Newcastle disease (NCD) is reported to have caused 100
percent mortality. And it has been identified as a major poultry production
constraint in the village chicken production systems of many African Countries
(Chabeuf, 1990; Olayiwole, 1984; Achiempong, 1992).Livestock husbandry
activities are minimal with some roles played by gender .The health of the
birds is not guaranteed because; there are little to no disease control
programmes such as vaccination of the birds at various stages and ages. The
birds are exposed to many disease conditions at various seasons of the year .In
most cases indigenous knowledge are used to treat/handle the poultry (Ugwu,et
al., 2009). Disease like Newcastle and parasitic infection have been
reported to be the most devastating and prevalent poultry disease in many
developing countries especially in Africa, (Chabeuf, 1990; Chrysostome,1995;
Bell, Kane and Le Jan, 1995). Parasites are also prevalent due to favourable
environmental conditions, (Zaria, et al. 1993). In spite of low-input by rural
poultry farmers in developing countries on poultry production, free-range birds
play many socio-economic roles. In Africa, they constituted over 50 percent of
the total poultry population and contributed 30 to 80 percent of total national
poultry products (Sonaiya, 1990). Estimates based on human and livestock
population in Ethiopia showed that the village chicken provides 125kg of
poultry meat per capital per year, whereas, cattle provides 5.23kg, (Forsiddo,
1986).In Africa, mortality of indigenous chickens under free-range system was
very high due to diseases, poor management, poor breeding system and malnutrition,
(Dipleolu, Keripe, Gbadamosi, and Gbadamosi, 1998). Also, some diseases can
appear more prevalent and devastating at certain seasons of the year. Newcastle
disease and other respiratory diseases become more prevalent in the dry season
while parasitic infections appear more during the rainy seasons.

1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The prevention and management of
diseases outbreak and the systems of poultry management in Sierra Leone remains
the major challenge to the maximization of profits and other benefits that
could be realized from poultry.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Poor management system of
poultry production and ineffective diseases prevention and control has been
identified as a major constraint militating against the survivability of poultry
enterprise in Sierra Leone in general and the rural set-up in particular. The
poor management of the enterprise greatly favoured other seasonally-dependent
poultry diseases that constitute a major threat to poultry business and its
profitability.

Thus, the objectives of the
study were to:

(a)  Identify the
common system of poultry in Sierra Leone

(b) Identify the pattern of
disease outbreak and possible causes in the systems of poultry management
identified

(c)  To access the
consequences in the growth and production of chicken in these (free range and
intensive) systems.

(d) To identify and access
the methods of prevention and control of the diseases in the two systems
identified.

1.4
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the
following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher; 

H0:
there
are no pattern of disease outbreak and possible causes in the systems of
poultry management identified

H1:
there
are pattern of disease outbreak and possible causes in the systems of poultry
management identified

H02:there
are no methods of prevention and control of the diseases in the two systems
identified

H2:there
are methods of prevention and control of the diseases in the two systems
identified

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY

This
study will be of significance to students of different higher of learning as it
would enlighten them and the entire nation. Finally, this study will also help
to serve as literature (reference source) to the public, individuals and
corporate bodies into what to carry out on further research on assessment of
commonly identified disease in the 2 common poultry management

1.6 JUSTIFICATION

The population of rural
poultry in Africa has been estimated to account for more than 60 percent of the
total national poultry population, (Sonaiya, 1990a). For example in Nigeria,
rural poultry accounted for about eighty percent of the total national flock, (Awan,
1993). Despite the high percentage, the survivability of rural poultry industry
in Nigeria is very low due to poor management techniques embarked upon by rural
poultry farmers, and outbreak of seasonally dependent diseases that can account
for high chick losses.The management of village chicken is complicated by the
presence of multi-aged groups in the same flock. High chick mortality can be
attributed to poor feeding, house and health control practices. There was
usually no preferential treatment for the chicks, as they compete for the
available feed resource with other animals. Where supplementary feeding and
water are provided, the containers used are too deep for the chicks to reach
the contents. Predation can also be a major cause of high chick mortality
because; the young chicks are more vulnerable. Predators like hawks, rats,
mongooses, snakes, dogs, cats and foxes prey on young chick especially those in
free-range management system.This management system can leads to failure of
health control programs due to poor administration of vaccine carriers whether
food or water as the birds are unprotected. Feeding and health improvement
programmes will only be successful if this situation is given due consideration
to ensure that the different birds are protected. The mortality rate of
naturally brooded chicks, whose only source of feed is from scavenging under
free-range conditions, is very high and often exceed 50 percent up to eight
weeks of age. (Chabeuf, 1990; Olayiwole, 1984; Achiempong, 1992).Therefore
there is a need to adopt a better system of poultry management that reduces or
prevent the loss of small chicks and the fowls to diseases and other
environmental factors that are detrimental to the profitability of poultry
management.

1.7
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The
scope of the study covers the assessment of commonly identified diseases in the
2 common poultry management. The researcher encounters some constrain which
limited the scope of the study;

a)
AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL:
The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby
limiting the study       

b) TIME:
The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the
researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the
study.

c)
Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected
auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required
information concerning the activities. 

1.8
DEFINITION OF TERMS

DISEASE:
A disease is a particular abnormal condition
that affects part or all of an organism not caused by external force and that
consists of a disorder of a structure or function, usually serving as an
evolutionary disadvantage.

POULTRY: Poultry
are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their
feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder Galloanserae,
especially the order Galliformes

MANAGEMENT: Management is the administration of an organization, whether it is a
business, a not-for-profit organization, or government body

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