Assessment of Economic Impact Caused by Poultry Coccidiosis in Small and Large Scale Poultry Farms in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the economic impact of poultry coccidiosis in small- and large- scale poultry farms in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Study population consisted of broiler and layer chicken in 8 farms. Data were obtained from farm records of the poultry farms. Records were collected on inputs and outputs. Questionnaires were used to obtain information that could not be obtained from farm records. They were also used to assess the farmer's awareness of the disease and its impact on flock performance. The economic impact was assessed in the context of how and how much the disease affected the level of inputs and outputs. qualitative and quantitative assessment of the impacts of the disease was made at the farm level. Coccidiosis was identified as a cause of direct and indirect losses in all farms. Losses occurred in the form of mortalities, coccidiostat costs, reduced weight gains, reduced market value of affected birds, culling, delayed offtake and reduced egg production. Average losses due to mortalities, culling and coccidiostat costs were estimated at Ethiopian Birr 898.80 and 5301.80 per farm or 0.55 and 0.53 Ethiopian Birr per chicken in small scale and large scale poultry farms, respectively. This contributed to an average of 11.86% and 8.40% loss in enterprise profit per farm in small and large scale farms, respectively. Proportional mortality rates due to coccidiosis were 14.5% and 13.3% in small scale and large scale poultry farms, respectively. It was concluded that coccidiosis was a major cause of losses in surveyed farms.