Nig. J. Anim. Prod.

2018, 45(1): 252 - 258 Nigerian Journal of Animal Production

© Nigerian Society for Animal Production
Challenges of poultry production in Nigeria: A review
Anosike, F. U., Rekwot, G. Z., Owoshagba, O. B., Ahmed, S. and Atiku, J. A.
Livestock Systems Research Programme, National Animal Production Research Institute
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, P.M.B 1096, Shika, Zaria. Nigeria
Corresponding Author: [email protected]; +2348038192350
Abstract
This study provides a review on the challenges facing poultry production in Nigeria and the
possible solution. The study considered the socio-economic roles of poultry to include;
means of livelihood and a way of achieving a certain level of economic independence,
meeting human needs for dietary animal protein supply, source of foreign earnings and
opportunities for saving, investment and security against risks for small-scale poultry
farmers. This paper reviewed the challenges of poultry production in Nigeria and how the
rate of production in the industry has slowed down. These challenges included; high rate of
disease and pest attack, lack of loan and credit procurement, lack of technical knowledge,
high rate of mortality, high cost of poultry feed, supply of poor quality chicks, inadequate
poultry extension services, and inadequate access to and high cost of veterinary services, as
reported by Possible solutions to these challenges are not farfetched, which included;
intervention of veterinary in order to cub losses due to diseases, technical know-how for
improving production should be made available to poultry keepers through extension
service, poultry farmers should be encouraged to form cooperative societies or join existing
one to be able to access loan for their business and addressing these challenges will prove
vital to increase production, increase animal protein availability and consumption, and
reduce the rate of food insecurity.
Keywords: poultry, livestock, production, challenges

Introduction maintained their shares in recent years,

Nigerian economy, although has been while the fishery has been expanding and
largely depend significantly on the oil the forestry shrinking (Nigeria vision 2020,
sector, Agriculture remains its mainstay. 2009). In Nigeria, the major source of
Agriculture contributed 24% of Nigeria's animal protein is the livestock industry.
gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 (N Over the years, the contributions of the
BS, 2010). Agriculture is the second largest livestock sub sector to Gross Domestic
export earner after crude oil and employing Product (GDP) have decreased from 5.61%
over 70% of rural labour; thus, the sector in 1960 to about 2.64% in 2010 (CBN,
ranks as a key contributor to wealth creation 2010). The contributions of livestock to
and poverty reduction (Nwafor, 2008). Agriculture in 1999 and 2010 remain at
Nigeria's agricultural sector comprises four 2.64% (CBN, 2010). Livestock production
sub-sectors: crops, livestock, fisheries and constitutes an important component of the
forestry (Rekwot et al., 2015). Crops agricultural economy in developing
contribute about 85% to agricultural GDP, countries and it is an instrument of socio
livestock production about 10%, fisheries economic change, improved income and
and Forestry about 4% and 1%, quality of rural life in Nigeria
respectively in 2006 (Rekwot et al., 2015). (Okumadewa, 1999). Poultry, as an aspect
The crop and livestock sub-sectors have of livestock production outnumbers all

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 Challenges of poultry production in Nigeria: A review

other forms of livestock in Nigeria and not than many other agricultural livestock
surprisingly is found throughout the sector. Different species in poultry
country (Adeyemo and Onikoyi, 2012). production include; Chickens (local
Today, poultry production has developed chickens, broilers, and layers), turkeys,
from backyard business to a commercially geese, ducks, guinea fowls and pigeons.
oriented industry. Its offer of highest Despite the fast growing trade and
turnover rate and quick returns to importance of poultry production in
investment outlay in the livestock Nigeria, it's not without challenges. This
enterprises has made it unique (Adeyemo paper seeks to review the challenges of
and Onikoyi, 2012). In (FDLPC, 2004) poultry production in Nigeria and suggest
reported that Nigeria produced 2 billion possible solution to cub these challenges to
eggs, 12,000 tones of poultry meat, while increase production, increase animal
estimated poultry meat consumption per protein availability and consumption, and
capital was 1.3 Kilograms (Okaiyeto and reduce the rate of food insecurity. The
Adamu, 2004). Poultry, which is next to tables below shows that of all the livestock
ruminant as a source of protein in Nigeria, reared in Nigeria, chickens are the most
accounts for almost 25% of local meat populated, common and widespread, while
production (Nwagu, 2002). The poultry Nigeria has the least rate of consumption of
sector is characterized by relative faster meat and egg, that is.8.1 and 3.5kg,
growth in consumption and trade volume respectively (Adeyemo and Onikoyi,
2012).
Table 1: Nigerian livestock population
Species Number
Chickens 82,400,000
Goats 34,500,000
Sheep 22,100,000
Cattle 13,900,000
Donkeys 900,000
Horses 200,000
Camels 90,000
Other poultry* 31,900,000
Pigs 3,500,000
Dogs 4,500,000
Cats 3,300,000
Rabbits 1,700,000
Guinea pigs 500,000
Giant rats 60,000
*include pigeons, ducks, Guinea fowl and turkey; FAO Corporate Document Repository in 2010.

Table 2: Consumption of meat (including poultry) and egg in selected countries (kg/capital/year)
Country Meat Egg
USA 124.0 14.5
Spain 113.1 13.9
Canada 101.1 10.8
France 99.9 16.0
Malaysia 54.0 14.4
Japan 42.4 19.2
Britain 76.3 9.2
South Africa 33.2 6.3
Libya 32.7 9.4
Israel 68.3 11.9
Tunisia 23.9 7.3
Zambia 11.0 3.9
Egypt 22.6 2.1
Sudan 21.1 1.2
Nigeria 8.1 3.5
Algeria 18.7 3.5
Morocco 18.5 5.2
Chad 15.4 0.5
Cameroon 15.1 0.7
World average 37.9 8.0
FAOSTST, 2002
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 Anosike, Rekwot, Owoshagba, Ahmed and Atiku

Socio-economic Role of Poultry (Ojo, 2003). The development of the

Production poultry industry has also been described as
Poultry production is one of the important the fastest means of bridging the protein
components of the livestock subsector in deficiency gap prevailing in most of the
the Nigerian economy, which can be developing countries. The poultry industry,
embarked upon by the people with small or if properly harnessed can also serve as a
no land capital (Conroy, 2005). Nigeria's source of foreign earnings complementing
poultry industry is composed of local crude oil which at present constitutes the
unimproved breeds and the high main source of foreign earnings in Nigeria
performing commercial breeds. Over the (The - poultry site news 2009). In poultry
last 50 years, the exotic breed has made an production, small scale poultry production
aggressive incursion into the production represents one of the few opportunities for
economy of the country, while the local saving, investment and security against
chicken is driven by traditional system risks. It accounts for approximately 90% of
management, the exotic breeds have total poultry production (Branckaert,
stimulated an industrial advancement of the 1999). Poultry production in rural parts of
poultry industry through specialization as the country is more important because of
egg or meat type strains to satisfy the the divergent roles it plays (Nwagu, 2002).
increasing demand for poultry commodity Poultry meat and eggs offers considerable
in the food market (Rekwot et al., 2015). It potential for meeting human needs for
provides direct employment for a large dietary animal supply (Folorunsho and
number of rural and urban people and Onibi, 2005). This single reason among
indirect employment to suppliers of others has made the enterprise attractive
products and services such as grain and popular among small medium, as well
farmers, feed mill operators as well as those as large scale poultry farmers
producing various goods and services used Challenges of poultry production in
to support poultry production and Nigeria
marketing activities (Adeyemo and Despite the leading role of poultry
Onikoyi, 2012). Poultry is considered to be production in the livestock industry, it's not
a means of livelihood and a way of without challenges. The challenges of
achieving a certain level of economic poultry production in Nigeria cannot be
independence in Nigeria. The primary over emphasized. These challenges have
purpose for keeping poultry in all parts of slowed down the rate of production in the
the country is for both dietary and industry. High rate of disease and pest
economic reasons (Ogundipe and Sanni, attack as a major challenge in poultry
2002). Poultry as an aspect of livestock production was reported by Ajala et al.
production is important to the biological (2007) and Aromolaran et al. (2013). Lack
needs, economic and social development of of access to Loan and credit procurement
the people in any nation (Oladeebo and was also identified in different research
Ambe-Lamidi, 2007). However, the carried out (Agbato, 1997; Akeeb 1997;
contribution of poultry production (meat Adebayo and Adeola, 2005; Aromolaran,
and eggs) to total livestock output 2013). Lack of technical knowledge was
increased from 26% in 1995 to 27% in 1999 also reported by Olaniyi et al. ( 2008), and
with an increase in egg production alone Aromolaran et al. (2013) as another
accounting for about 13% during the period challenge facing the industry, this they say,

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 Challenges of poultry production in Nigeria: A review

that most people go into poultry farming know-how for improving poultry
simply because of the huge profit they see production should be made available to
others getting, but fail to enquire the poultry keepers through extension service.
necessary knowledge involved in poultry Thus the extension workers have a major
production. High rate of mortality was also role to play in improving rural poultry
identified by Chilate and Guta (2001); production as suggested by (Ajala et al.,
Aromolaran (2013); Anosike et al. (2015), 2007). Aromolaran et al. (2013), in their
as major challenges facing the industry, this research carried out in Ibadan, Oyo State on
they say was due to supply of poor quality small poultry farms did recommended, that
chicks as reported by Ajala et al. (2007); small scale layer poultry famers should be
Adeyemo and Onikoyi (2012); Anosike et encouraged to form cooperative societies or
al. (2015). Anosike et al. (2015), also join the existing one to be able to access loan
reported that most farmers do not have an for their business and government could
idea of the farms that hatch the chicks they also make fund available to assist the
buy, as they buy from road side hawker. poultry farmers. They also recommended
Ajala et al. (2007), also reported that capacity training of poultry famers to enable
mortality mostly occur at brooding stage. them cope with the challenges of modern
High cost of poultry feeds was identified by poultry farming and commercialization of
Agro-Ind (2002); Sonaiya and Swan small scale layer poultry production should
(2004); Adeyemo and Adeyemo (2009). be carried out. This is also in line with the
Adeyemo and Onikoyi (2012) reported that recommendation of Adeyemo and Onikoyi
inadequate poultry extension services are (2012), who recommended that
one of the major challenges faced by the Government should provide financial
poultry industry. Inadequate access to and assistance to subsistence and small-scale
high cost of Veterinary services was poultry farmers in form of soft loans. This
reported by Adeyemo and Onikoyi (2012); they say will help to prevent the decline of
Anosike et al. (2015) as another major the sectors as a result of unprofitable
challenge posing a trait to the industry. operation or increase in the price of its
Possible solutions to the challenges of products. Anosike, et al. (2015) did
poultry production in Nigeria recommend that to reduce the rate mortality
Despite the challenges of poultry to a barest minimum, hatchery industry
production in Nigeria, it has not stopped the should be inspected by relevant agencies to
industry from functioning, though these ensure that healthy day old chicks are
challenges might have slowed down its produced under good hygiene condition.
production rate. Solution to cub these
challenges are not farfetched. The Conclusion
incidence of diseases outbreak is one of the The challenges of poultry production in
pressing challenge of poultry production in Nigeria are multifaceted. These challenges
Nigeria. There is need for veterinary might not have stopped the industry from
intervention in order to cub losses due to functioning because there has been a steady
disease as suggested by (Ajala et al., 2007). increase in the demand for poultry products
Also educations on feeding of brood and in Nigeria due to several factors such as
simple disease control programmes are increase in population, new poultry farms
possible short-term methods to improve the expansion of existing ones and the
poultry production in Nigeria. Technical resuscitation of some others which had

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stopped production but might has slowed LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Nigeria

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