Implications of Deceptive Practices of Poultry Input Suppliers on Poultry Production in Kwara State, Nigeria
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Date
2017
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Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>Deceptive practices of poultry input suppliers are partly responsible for inability to meet the consumption of recommended animal protein (35g/person/day). The study examined the prevailing deceptive practices and effects on poultry production in Nigeria. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 70 small scale poultry farmers used as respondents. Data were analyzed using percentages and means. The respondents (68.6 %) had a minimum of secondary school education and spent averagely 15.7 years in poultry production. The findings showed that deceptive practices include adulteration of feed ingredients, marketing of under-weighed feeds, lack of proximate analysis of nutrient composition of feeds and use of old bags for packaging. The respondents (81.3 %) agreed that deceptive practices delayed the start of growing period of the fowls. Similarly, 79.5 % and 61 % experienced low meat and egg production, respectively, resulting in expensive animal protein, increased production overheads (83.4 %), lowered returns on investment (90.1 %). The result of hypothesis indicated a positive significant relationship between the level of educational attainment of respondents and ability to identify deceptive practices in poultry production (R = 0.214, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> ≤ 0.05) among respondents. Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and other relevant regulatory agencies should have a structure to regulate and award penalties to culpable individuals in these deceptive practices. Extension organizations should educate poultry producers on the concept of deceptive practices and its consequences.</jats:p>