INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POULTRY SCIENCE ANSLaee 308 Lasani Town, Sargodha Road, Faisalabad - Pakistan Mob: +92 300 3008585, Fax: +92 41 8815544 E-mail: editorijps@gmail.comInternational Journal of Poultry Science 6 (11): 1061-1068, 2008 ISSN 1682-8356 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008 The Effect of Climate on Poultry Productivity in llorin Kwara State, Nigeria Obayelu Abiodun Elijah’ and Adeniyi Adedapo* ‘Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria “Department of Geography, University of llorin, lorin, Kwara State, Nigeria Abstract: An empirical analysis of the relationship between climatic elements, poultty feed intake, egg production and disease outbreaks in llorin Kwara State Nigeria was carried out using climatological data and data from poultry farmers over @ period of five years (2000-2004). Data on temperature, rainfall, wind ‘speed and relative humidity for every month in the selected years were obtained from the department of Ilorin International Airport, and analyzed. While data on poultry egg production, poultry feed intake as well as disease outbreak were collected through a stratified random sampling of 120 poultry farmers in llorin metropolis. The results of the analysis using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, coefficient of variation, multiple regression analysis show that climatic variables (temperature, rainfall, wind speed and relative humidity) in llorin contribute about 81%, 96% and 43% to the variance in poultry egg production, feed intake and outbreak of diseases of poultry production respectively. While temperature has an inverse relationship with poultry feed intake, high relative humidity in the study area usually encourage outbreak of poultry diseases which invariably reduce egg production. In order to improve poultry procluctivity in Ilorin, the pouitry farmers need to establish appropriate housing and sanitation practices to minimize the effect of heat and the occurrence and spread of diseases. Pouitry birds must properly be confined so as to protect them from physical hazards, rain and extremes of heat and cold in order to enhance productivity. Farmers should select poultry breeds that are adaptable to the kind of climate operating in the study area. There is also the need to feed the birds with sufficient ration so as to meet their nutritional requirement Key words: Climate, llorin, Nigeria, poultry, weather and productivity Introduction Poultry ate birds such as the domestic fowl, Turkey, Duck, Goose, Ostrich etc which render economic service to man. Their production is one of the livestock production with significant contribution to human food (Demeke, 2004). Poultry plays an important role in the diet and economy of Nigerian. It is the primary supplier of eggs and meat and as a source of income and employment to people compared to other domestic animals (Avila, 1985). They are raised with relatively low capital investment and readily available household labour. Scavenging village chickens have cultural, social, nutritional, economic and sanitary functions in human life. For instance poutry egg contains 74% water, itis a good source of high protein and it is often used by nutritionist as a standard reference for evaluating other protein foods. One egg supplies 11% of the recommended daily protein intake for adults. The fat of egg is readily digestible and is made up of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Poultry eggs are low in calories but contains many vitamins. They are used in various food industries, confectionery and for producing cosmetics and vaccines. One poultry egg weighing SSg/day meets the 50% of protein requirements of a child up to 5 years of age (Ponapa, 1982). Studies have shown that the level of performance of poultry does not only depends on inherited capacity but also to a great extent upon the environment (Campbell and Lasley, 1975). The environmental conditions affecting the performance, health productivity ofa chicken include temperature, relative humidity, light, sunshine prevailing at a given time, housing system and Ventilation. High temperature and humidity have some negative effects on poultry such as an increase on poultry body temperature; a dectease on feed consumption (Cowan and Michie, 1978; Howiider and Rose, 1987) and feed efficiency. High temperature also results to a reduction in poultry live weight (Mowbray and ‘Sykes, 1971), growth speed and high mortality (Arjona et al., 1988) in addition to a decrease on productivity and quality of the eggs (Ozbey and Ozcelik, 2004). Furthermore, harsh rearing environment and imbalanced feeding do not permit expression of the full genetic potential of exotic breeds (Barua and Howler, 1990). Other environmental factors affecting the performances of layer chicken include feed utilization and body weight (Harms ef al, 1982), water availability (Oluyemi and Roberts, 1979), tier of cages (North, 1984), and infection (McNitt, 1983) Temperature is an important bio-climatic factor affecting the physiological function of layer-chickens (McDowell, 1972) though the effect on egg production rate depend on age of laying hens. The effect is more evident at old age when birds are exposed to a cold climate. When 1061Elijah and Adedapo: Effect of Climate on Poultry Productivity Table 1: Temperature and its effects on egg production “Temperature (C) ‘Good production ‘Some reduction in feed intake, Slight panting. Mortality due to heat stress Feed coneumption reduced and water intake increased: eggs of reduced size and tin shell, Heat prostation sets in, measures to coal the house must be taken ‘Source: Kekeocha, 1985: Poultry production handbook. Londen, Macmillan Publishers Lid ‘temperature falls below the thermo neutral zone of below 12.8°C (which is rarely experienced in the tropics) egg production becomes uneconomic difference (Oluyemi and Robert, 1979). Charles (1980) opine that feed intake of a laying hen decreased by 1.59 a day for every degree centigrade rise in temperature above 30" decreased egg production by about one egg per bird a year for every degree rise in temperature above 25-3°C and that the depressive effect of environmental temperature by heat stress significantly increases water consumption, reduces egg production, egg weight, shell ‘weight, shell thickness causing a significantly higher production of shellers or very thin-shelled eggs. The optimal laying temperature according to Kekeocha (1985) is between 11° and 26°C. A humidity level above 75 percent will cause a reduction in egg laying (Table 1) Better productivity of chickens clepends on the roofing sheets of the poultry house, Poultry house that is roofed with asbestos will generally reduced the heat stress on the birds and enhanced better performance (Awoni 2003) The climatic problems affecting poultry farmers reviewed above not withstanding, almost all poor households including the landless own poultry agreed that poultry keeping is an excellent tool in poverty alleviation due to the quick tumover and low investment. This implies that it poultry production is improve, it will create opportunity for the development of the poor segments of the society (Permin et al, 2000; Gueye, 1998; Todd, 1998; Quisumbing et al, 1995). The major objective of this study therefore centred on the analysis the effect of climatic factors on production parameters of poultry in llorin Kwara State, Nigeria, The findings will enhance the productivity of poultry not only in Ilorin Nigeria but in other countries yet to go into poultry production on commercial scale and those already in the business. Materials and Methods Study Area: The study area of this research work is Hlorin, the capital city of Kwara State. llorin is located on latitude 8°30' N and longitude 4° 35'E. The town which occupies an area of about 100km’ (Oyegun, 1992) and the total population 532.088 people (Nigeria, 1991 population census) is situated at a strategic point between the densely populated South-Western and the sparsely populated Middle Belt area of Nigeria. It is located in the transitional zone between the deciduous woodland of the south and dry savannah of North of Nigeria (Jimoh, 2003) making the town a good site for livestock production with all thing being equal. llorin climate is characterized by both the wet and dry seasons each lasting for about six months. The raining season begins towards the end of April and lasts till October while the dry season begins in November and ends in March. Days are very hot during the dry season; from November to January, temperatures typically range from 33°C to 34°C, while from February to April, the temperature is between 346°C and 37°C. The total annual rainfall in Ilorin is about 1318mm with the mean temperature being between 30°C-33 € (Ilorin Atlas, 1958). Relative humidity at llorin in the wet season is, between 75 and 80% while in the dry season itis about 65% (Tinuoye, 1990), The daytime is always sunny with the sun brightly shinning for about 6.5 - 7.7 hours daily from November to May (Olaniran, 1983). The climate supports tall grass. vegetation, which is interspersed with short scattered trees (Guinea Savanna). Hence. it provides high quantity of feed for livestock animals. The only trees able to survive in this climate are those which are biologically suited to withstand dry conditions. Such trees have deep roots and they are adapted to conserve moisture in the dry season, The baobab, acacia, shears butter trees are typical examples of trees in the area. The vegetation on the other hands is dominated by derived savannah comprising of tall grass interspersed with scattered trees, Noticeable grasses that grow in the area include spear grass, elephant grass, and goat weed of height 3-5 metres. Chicken species available in Hlorin include Gallus gallus (Red Jungle Fowi), Gallus sonnerati (Gray Jungle Fow) and Gallus lafayuttil (Cylon Fow) beside the indigenous chickens The vegetation provides reasonable quantity of feed for livestock animals especially during the rainy season, The ‘common climatic elements of interest are temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed which affect livestock production mainly in the tropical area ‘Types of data and methods of data collection: Climatological data and data on poultry production are collected in the study. Climatological data on temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, day length period and wind speed and direction were collected for the period of five years, (2000 to 2004) from the Meteorological Department, Ilorin International Airport. 1062