AGE 406 — Poultry Production Education: Lecture Note

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AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course code: AGE 406 Course title: Poultry Production Education Course credit load: 2 Units Series 1: Principles and Systems of Poultry Production • Part 1.1: Introduction to Poultry Production o Sub Part 1.1.1: Importance and scope of poultry production o Sub Part 1.1.2: Species of poultry and their characteristics o Sub Part 1.1.3: History and development of poultry industry in Nigeria • Part 1.2: Poultry Production Systems o Sub Part 1.2.1: Extensive and semi-intensive systems o Sub Part 1.2.2: Intensive systems o Sub Part 1.2.3: Organic and free-range systems • Part 1.3: Poultry Breeds and Commercial Hybrids o Sub Part 1.3.1: Indigenous breeds in Nigeria o Sub Part 1.3.2: Exotic breeds and commercial hybrids o Sub Part 1.3.3: Principles of genetic selection • Part 1.4: Poultry Industry Structure and Management o Sub Part 1.4.1: Structure of the Nigerian poultry industry o Sub Part 1.4.2: Flock management principles o Sub Part 1.4.3: Record-keeping and performance indices

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Introduction Poultry production is Nigeria's most commercially developed livestock sub-sector, supplying the majority of domestically consumed animal protein through eggs and chicken meat. Understanding its scope, the systems used, the breeds available, and the structure of the industry is the essential foundation for effective poultry management. This Series introduces the importance and history of Nigerian poultry production, compares the major production systems, describes indigenous and exotic breeds and commercial hybrids, and explains how the industry is organised and managed. These concepts underpin all practical management topics in Series 2 through 5. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 describe the importance and scope of poultry production in Nigeria (Linked to Part 1.1), • SLO 1.2 identify the major poultry species and state their key characteristics (Linked to Part 1.1), • SLO 1.3 describe the major poultry production systems and compare their advantages and limitations (Linked to Part 1.2), • SLO 1.4 describe Nigerian indigenous breeds, exotic breeds, and commercial hybrids (Linked to Part 1.3), • SLO 1.5 explain the principles of genetic selection used to produce commercial hybrids (Linked to Part 1.3), • SLO 1.6 describe the structure of the Nigerian poultry industry (Linked to Part 1.4), and • SLO 1.7 apply flock management principles and explain the importance of records and performance indices (Linked to Part 1.4).

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.1 Introduction to Poultry Production 1.1.1 Importance and scope of poultry production Poultry provides eggs, meat, feathers, and manure. Eggs are the cheapest complete animal protein source in Nigeria; chicken meat is the second most consumed meat after beef. The Nigerian poultry sector comprises an estimated 180 million birds and contributes approximately 25 per cent of total agricultural GDP. It generates employment along the entire value chain: hatcheries, feed mills, farms, processors, and retailers. Poultry manure is a valuable organic fertiliser for crop farming; feathers are processed into feather meal for animal feeds. The industry is relatively quick-returning: broilers reach slaughter weight in 5 to 6 weeks, and layers begin production at 18 to 20 weeks. These short production cycles make poultry attractive to entrepreneurial farmers seeking faster returns than ruminant livestock. Fill in the blank: Nigeria has an estimated 180 million birds; the poultry sector contributes approximately ________ per cent of total agricultural GDP and is the fastest-returning livestock sub-sector. 1.1.2 Species of poultry and their characteristics Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is the most important poultry species globally and in Nigeria; it is raised for both eggs and meat. Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) produces large carcasses and is popular for festive occasions; it has a longer production cycle than broiler chicken. Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is hardy, water-loving, and produces eggs with higher yolk content than chicken eggs; it is important in riverine areas of southern Nigeria. Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) is well adapted to the Nigerian savanna; it is a good forager, disease-resistant, and valued for its distinctive flavour. Geese (Anser anser) are primarily grazers and are less common commercially. Pigeon (Columba livia) and quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) are minor but growing species. Each species has distinct housing, feeding, incubation, and management requirements that the poultry manager must understand.

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Fill in the blank: The ________ fowl is well adapted to the Nigerian savanna; it is a good forager, naturally disease-resistant, and produces meat valued for its distinctive gamey flavour. Figure 1.1: Photographs of major poultry species kept in Nigeria 1.1.3 History and development of poultry industry in Nigeria Traditional poultry keeping in Nigeria dates back centuries; indigenous village chickens and guinea fowl were kept under extensive scavenging systems. Commercial poultry production began in the 1950s and 1960s with the introduction of exotic breeds and government farm settlements. The sector expanded rapidly in the 1970s and early 1980s, driven by oil wealth and government import restrictions that created a protected domestic market. The structural adjustment programme of the mid-1980s caused severe disruption as feed ingredient costs rose sharply and credit became scarce. Recovery began in the 1990s and accelerated in the 2000s with private sector investment, particularly in integrated poultry companies (Chi Farms, Obasanjo Farms, Zartech). Today the sector is predominantly private and

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS semi-commercial, but the cost of feed (comprising 65 to 70 per cent of production cost) remains the dominant challenge. Fill in the blank: Feed constitutes ________ to 70 per cent of poultry production cost in Nigeria; rising feed ingredient prices remain the most significant constraint on industry profitability. Pilot questions 1.1 1. State six ways in which poultry production contributes to the Nigerian economy. 2. Name five poultry species and state one key characteristic of each. 3. Explain why broiler production has a shorter payback period than beef cattle production. 4. Describe the historical development of commercial poultry production in Nigeria. 5. Explain why feed cost is the dominant challenge in Nigerian poultry production. 1.2 Poultry Production Systems 1.2.1 Extensive and semi-intensive systems In the extensive (village) system, birds scavenge freely for food (insects, seeds, kitchen scraps) around homesteads; no purpose-built housing, feeds, or veterinary inputs are provided. Production is very low but input cost is near zero. This system dominates in rural Nigeria and accounts for the majority of guinea fowl, local chickens, and duck production. Mortality is high due to predation, disease, and nutritional deficiency. The semi-intensive system combines a simple shelter with a fenced yard, allowing some foraging while providing supplementary feed and water. Birds have better nutrition, growth rates, and survivability than in the extensive system. This system is common in peri-urban smallholder operations and suits small commercial layer or broiler units with 200 to 500 birds. It is a practical entry point for farmers transitioning from subsistence to commercial production.

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Fill in the blank: The ________ system combines a simple shelter with a fenced yard; birds forage and receive supplementary feed; it suits smallholder commercial operations of 200 to 500 birds. 1.2.2 Intensive systems The intensive system confines birds entirely within a purpose-built house; all feed, water, light, temperature, and health management are provided by the farmer. Stocking densities are high: 10 to 15 birds per m2 for broilers on litter; 450 cm2 per bird in battery cages for layers. Feed conversion is optimised, labour per bird is low, and management control is maximised. Almost all commercial Nigerian poultry operations use some form of intensive system. Within intensive systems, two sub-types exist: floor (litter) systems house birds on wood shavings, rice husks, or sawdust bedding; cage systems house layers in wire cages (battery cages) that are stacked in tiers. Battery cages maximise space utilisation and facilitate individual egg collection but raise animal welfare concerns. Deep litter is the standard for broilers; battery cages are standard for commercial layers in Nigeria. Fill in the blank: In battery cage systems for layers, each bird is allocated approximately ________ cm2 of floor space; cages maximise space use and egg collection efficiency but raise welfare concerns.

AGE la-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Figure 1.2: Photographs comparing extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive poultry production systems 1.2.3 Organic and free-range systems Free-range systems require birds to have meaningful access to outdoor areas; minimum outdoor space standards vary by certification body. Free-range eggs and meat command premium prices in urban Nigerian supermarkets and among health-conscious consumers. The system requires more land, results in higher feed wastage, and carries greater exposure to wild bird contact (a disease risk for avian influenza). Management skill and biosecurity are more demanding than in conventional intensive houses. Organic poultry production requires birds to be raised on certified

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