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Chicken production under backyard low input system has long been practiced in
Ethiopia. Village chickens have been widely used for egg and meat production, and they also
serve other purposes (Alemu, 1995; and Tadelle and Ogle, 2001). Even though, village
chicken products are the main and often the only source of animal protein for poor households
(Horst, 1989; and Kitalyi, 1997). Their productivity has remained marginal compared with
their numbers. Constraints which could restrict the potentiality of village chickens in Ethiopia
include low inputs of feeding and poor management, infectious diseases and lack of
appropriate selection and breeding practices (Alemu, 1995; and Tadelle and Ogle, 2001). In recent
years, attempts are underway to enhance chicken productivity and contribution via importing
and crossbreeding exotic breeds with local chickens. High yielding improved breeds have
been distributed to poor farmers of the rural Ethiopia via the extension division of the bureau
of agriculture. Moreover, efforts have been made to enhance the productivity and
profitability of commercial poultry farms. However, infectious diseases are becoming real threats to
chicken production (Alamargot, 1987; and Zeleke et al., 2005a). The distribution of improved
breed of chickens from poultry breeding and multiplication centers to farmers is believed
to disseminate diseases to indigenous chickens. Viral diseases, such as Newcastle Disease
(ND) and Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) are reported to be the major health constraints of
chickens in commercial poultry farms, poultry breeding and multiplication centers, and in the
village chickens (Alamargot, 1987; Alemu, 1995; and Zeleke, et al., 2005a and 2005b). The objectives of the study were to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated
with the occurrence of ND and IBD in village chickens.
The study was conducted in two model districts of the Amhara region, Northwest
Ethiopia, where farmers were selected and included in poultry production extension packages
launched and implemented by the government through distributing improved day-old chicks to
the farmers. The districts are named as Bahir Dar and Farta. Bahir Dar district is located
in Northwest Ethiopia at an altitude of 1,730 to 2,300 masl. The district has
mid-altitude agroclimatic zone with an annual rainfall of 800 to 1,250 mm. The mean annual
minimum and maximum temperature of the area were 10 and 32 °C, respectively. Farta district is
also located in Northwest Ethiopia at an altitude of 1,920 to 4,135 masl. The area has
highland agroclimatic zone with an annual rainfall of 1,250 to 1,599 mm. The mean annual
minimum and maximum temperatures were 9.9 and 21
°C, respectively (BoARD, 2003). |
