adminDr Shadreck Magonziwa
FARMERS that have ventured into poultry have likely experienced a batch that made them regret having started the business.
The reasons for the regret are many, the most common being diseases, which usually lead to mortality and the ever changing market conditions.
In this article we try to discuss the first point for the benefit of both the new and the prospective poultry producer.
The hallmark in preventing poultry mortalities is the farmer’s ability to recognise disease early followed by an immediate response, often before the disease gets established. This usually also entails more effective medication at a lower cost resulting in reduced growth and production losses.
This is especially important as most farmers react only when the birds have started dying often after a few days of high mortalities.
The skilled poultry farmer is the one more familiar with the techniques of disease recognition. Green horns with a little practice can also differentiate between normal and sick poultry by mere observation. One needs to spend sufficient time with the birds discern their normal behaviour.
No expert can teach you what you can learn from just observing the birds for extended periods. Good practice is to enter the fowl run and then stand motionless which normally results in the birds getting accustomed to you in several minutes hence will return to their original pattern of activity.
Once you know the normal pattern of activity you should be able to see changes in behaviour associated with early disease such as inactivity, laboured breathing (open mouth breathing with a wheezing sound), nervous signs ( neck twisting), poor feeding and drinking activity (inappetence), among other things.
Poultry should be equated to a human baby who can exhibit similar signs before catching a cold perhaps. Other things such as the droppings (colour and consistency), leg problems and plumage can also be easily noticed if you get into the practice.
Another tool to use will be the records.Parameters for management such as feed and water consumed can show you a reduction in appetite, reduction in weight gain (most people only raise the alarm when it’s too late often at marketing stage), sudden drop in egg production and the mortality record.
Remember that stress from factors such as drastic change in whether, transportation, vaccinations, unusual noise perhaps when you host a party can also leave the birds predisposed to diseases.
Remember that your veterinary officer or doctor often sees a dead bird which can only tell half the story but you remain the key informant in the process to disease diagnosis just like when you take a toddler to the paediatrician who cannot say what happened to them or how they are feeling save through you and your observations.
Other tools such as laboratory tests to examine the blood (serology) can also be employed routinely especially if you now have a large flock. Laboratories can offer such services at competitive rates.
Remember that at least 90 percent of the diseases can be easily managed through early detection and good management practices.
Dr Magonziwa (BVSc, BBA, MCom) and can be contacted at Fivet, e-mail [email protected] or cell 0772 616 568.
Online Reporter