Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya

In Kenya, commercial broiler production is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for poultry meat resulting in higher incomes for farmers. Due to this increase in demand, broiler chicken production is increasingly becoming intensive where chickens are overstocked in deep litter systems subjecting...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Achikule A. Yensuk, Joyce G. Maina, Paul N. Mbugua
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Advances in Agriculture
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7502751
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832562331457945600
author Achikule A. Yensuk
Joyce G. Maina
Paul N. Mbugua
author_facet Achikule A. Yensuk
Joyce G. Maina
Paul N. Mbugua
author_sort Achikule A. Yensuk
collection DOAJ
description In Kenya, commercial broiler production is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for poultry meat resulting in higher incomes for farmers. Due to this increase in demand, broiler chicken production is increasingly becoming intensive where chickens are overstocked in deep litter systems subjecting the birds to suffering perpetuated through burns on their shanks and breasts with constant footpad lesions, thus compromising their welfare. This study was conducted to determine the farmers’ attitudes towards the welfare of broiler chickens in smallholder production systems in Kiambu County, Kenya. A total of 120 farmers were randomly chosen for the study consisting of 42 and 78 respondents from Kikuyu and Kabete subcounties, respectively. A semistructured questionnaire was used to interview the farmers on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in regard to broiler welfare. The results of this study indicated that most farmers (74%) in Kikuyu and Kabete subcounties had knowledge about broiler welfare. Media, hatcheries, agrovet centres, and extension agents were the main sources of information on broiler welfare to farmers at 61%, 40%, 38.8%, and 31.5% respectively. Farmers perceived that good feeding (88%), good health (83%), suitable housing (82%), and appropriate behaviour (48%) were very important indicators of broiler chicken welfare. Gumboro (infectious bursal disease) and new castle disease (NCD) were prevented through vaccination by most farmers (91%), while coccidiosis was controlled through cleaning and disinfection of broiler sheds and equipment as well as treatment of sick birds with coccidiostat. In conclusion, farmers’ perception on broiler welfare has a bearing on the performance of broiler chickens.
format Article
id doaj-art-a5e43933de7d49eea6d2d7aaf39be1d9
institution Kabale University
issn 2314-7539
language English
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-a5e43933de7d49eea6d2d7aaf39be1d92025-02-03T01:22:56ZengWileyAdvances in Agriculture2314-75392022-01-01202210.1155/2022/7502751Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, KenyaAchikule A. Yensuk0Joyce G. Maina1Paul N. Mbugua2Department of Animal ProductionDepartment of Animal ProductionDepartment of Animal ProductionIn Kenya, commercial broiler production is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for poultry meat resulting in higher incomes for farmers. Due to this increase in demand, broiler chicken production is increasingly becoming intensive where chickens are overstocked in deep litter systems subjecting the birds to suffering perpetuated through burns on their shanks and breasts with constant footpad lesions, thus compromising their welfare. This study was conducted to determine the farmers’ attitudes towards the welfare of broiler chickens in smallholder production systems in Kiambu County, Kenya. A total of 120 farmers were randomly chosen for the study consisting of 42 and 78 respondents from Kikuyu and Kabete subcounties, respectively. A semistructured questionnaire was used to interview the farmers on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in regard to broiler welfare. The results of this study indicated that most farmers (74%) in Kikuyu and Kabete subcounties had knowledge about broiler welfare. Media, hatcheries, agrovet centres, and extension agents were the main sources of information on broiler welfare to farmers at 61%, 40%, 38.8%, and 31.5% respectively. Farmers perceived that good feeding (88%), good health (83%), suitable housing (82%), and appropriate behaviour (48%) were very important indicators of broiler chicken welfare. Gumboro (infectious bursal disease) and new castle disease (NCD) were prevented through vaccination by most farmers (91%), while coccidiosis was controlled through cleaning and disinfection of broiler sheds and equipment as well as treatment of sick birds with coccidiostat. In conclusion, farmers’ perception on broiler welfare has a bearing on the performance of broiler chickens.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7502751
spellingShingle Achikule A. Yensuk
Joyce G. Maina
Paul N. Mbugua
Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
Advances in Agriculture
title Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
title_full Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
title_fullStr Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
title_short Farmers’ Perception on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens in Smallholder Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya
title_sort farmers perception on the welfare of broiler chickens in smallholder production systems in kiambu county kenya
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7502751
work_keys_str_mv AT achikuleayensuk farmersperceptiononthewelfareofbroilerchickensinsmallholderproductionsystemsinkiambucountykenya
AT joycegmaina farmersperceptiononthewelfareofbroilerchickensinsmallholderproductionsystemsinkiambucountykenya
AT paulnmbugua farmersperceptiononthewelfareofbroilerchickensinsmallholderproductionsystemsinkiambucountykenya