Analysis of Veterinary Participation among Broiler Poultry Farmers: A Case of Veterinary and Non Veterinary Service Patronizing Farmers

Abstract

The result of a probit model analysis to measure determinants of veterinary participation among broiler poultry farmers showed that education, extension contact, membership of cooperatives and income from other sources were factors that encouraged continued patronage by broiler poultry farmers of veterinary services in managing the health and associated challenges of their poultry farms. The income the patronizing poultry farmers made from their farm was significantly different from that of the non-patronizing farmers probably because those who did not patronize veterinary services may have had output that never met the consumers’ satisfaction nor made them make profit; they probably managed to break-even. It is therefore recommended that heightened enlightenment campaign on the benefits of veterinary activities be undertaken in the study area for the health of the animal and mankind. It is highly discouraged that continued broiler production and poultry products for the market be done without health certification of what is consumed at household level given the level of information explosion so far have witnessed at not only the state but also at the national level. It is time to put the search light on what animal producers are doing to ensure they are in tandem with expected quality of meat intake by household in meeting with global or international standards.

Keywords: Income, broiler, poultry, veterinary, non-veterinary, farmers