Factors Associated With Newcastle Disease Occurrence In Indigenous Free-range Chickens In Embu And Mbeere Districts
Date
2006Author
Njagi, L.W.
Nyaga, P.N.
Mbuthia, P.G
Michieka, J.N.
Bebora, L.C.
Minga, U.M.
Olsen, J.E
Type
PresentationMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A study of factors associated with outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) in indigenous free
-
range chickens was carried out in five agro
-
ecological zones in t
wo districts of Eastern
province of Kenya.
Seventy five households keeping chickens were randomly selected. Data
on management practices, incidence of diseases and factors associated with ND outbreaks
were collected using interviewer
-
administered questionn
aire. The prevalence rate of
Newcastle disease was highest (93.8%) in the dry zone (Low midland 5) and lowest (50%) in
cool wet zone (Lower highland 1). The ND outbreaks were significantly associated with
stress inducing factors, namely: confinement of bir
ds, lack of supplementation of feed and
seasons. It was found to be more prevalent in wet seasons than dry seasons in all agro
-
ecological zones, except the Lower midland 5, where it occurred during the hot season.
Other important factors for the outbreaks
were: mode of disposal of infected birds,
carcasses and fecal matter, windy conditions and the restocking of farms with chickens from
the markets. Mixing of chickens with other poultry, green vegetation on the farm, dust
storms, gift birds to farms, short
intermittent temperature changes and flowering of the
crops had minimal association with these outbreaks. The study also revealed that only
17.3% of the farmers were controlling ND through vaccination. It was concluded that
besides using vaccination as a c
ontrol measure for ND in rural free
-
range poultry, the flock
owners should be educated on the modes of transmission of ND virus, in addition to being
discouraged from purchasing restocking chickens from the market
Citation
Njagi L.W., Nyaga P.N., Mbuthia P.G., Michieka J.N., Bebora L.C. , Minga U.M. and Olsen J.E. (2006): Factors associated with Newcastle disease occurrence in indigenous free - range chickens in Embu and Mbeere districts. Paper presented at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Scientific Conference held in Nairobi, 2006. Proceedings page 19 and 20Publisher
University of Nairobi Veterinary Panthology and Microbiology