Health and Disease Management of Indigenous Ducks (Anas Plathrynchus) in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region

A survey was conducted in ۲۳ selected communities in the Tamale metropolis to identify various health and disease management practices employed by local duck farmers. Snowball sampling technique was used to select the various communities while purposive sampling technique was used to identify duck farmers within the communities. Primary data was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires administered to ۹۱ duck farmers and was analyzed using SPSS version ۲۰. Results of the survey showed that majority (۶۹.۲%) of the farmers adopted biosecurity measures whiles ۳۰.۸% adopted no biosecurity measures. The majority of the farmers (۶۴.۸%) practiced a semi-intensive management system. In terms of various biosecurity measures carried out by farmers, ۹.۵% ensured good hygiene whereas ۱۷.۵% practiced culling and slaughtering of sick ducks to avert possible transmission of infections. Additionally, ۲۸.۶% of the farmers provided water and fed regularly to their ducks. Some farmers (۱۱.۱%) protected their ducks from predator’s whiles control of ticks was carried out by ۳.۲%. Few farmers (۹.۵%) provided shelter to ducklings whiles ۲۰.۶% provided prophylactic treatment to ducks. Few farmers (۴.۴%) follow vaccination schedules whiles ۹۵.۶% do not. Modern treatment was practiced by ۳۱.۹% whiles ۱.۱% use ethno-veterinary medicine. The majority of the farmers (۷۶.۷%) used Amoxicillin antibiotics whiles ۶.۷% and ۱۳.۳% use Sulfa and Flagyl (metronidazole) drugs. The medicaments identified were used in treating symptoms and ailments such as anorexia, paresis, fowl cholera, and paralysis. Avian botulism was the prevalent disease in the study area. In terms of action on sick ducks, ۲۴.۲% of the farmers slaughtered and consumed sick ducks whiles ۳۳% treated their sick ducks. From the study disease management of ducks in the metropolis has not been given much attention by farmers however, with much extension education on these the farmers would obtain many benefits from their production.A survey was conducted in ۲۳ selected communities in the Tamale metropolis to identify various health and disease management practices employed by local duck farmers. Snowball sampling technique was used to select the various communities while purposive sampling technique was used to identify duck farmers within the communities. Primary data was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires administered to ۹۱ duck farmers and was analyzed using SPSS version ۲۰. Results of the survey showed that majority (۶۹.۲%) of the farmers adopted biosecurity measures whiles ۳۰.۸% adopted no biosecurity measures. The majority of the farmers (۶۴.۸%) practiced a semi-intensive management system. In terms of various biosecurity measures carried out by farmers, ۹.۵% ensured good hygiene whereas ۱۷.۵% practiced culling and slaughtering of sick ducks to avert possible transmission of infections. Additionally, ۲۸.۶% of the farmers provided water and fed regularly to their ducks. Some farmers (۱۱.۱%) protected their ducks from predator’s whiles control of ticks was carried out by ۳.۲%. Few farmers (۹.۵%) provided shelter to ducklings whiles ۲۰.۶% provided prophylactic treatment to ducks. Few farmers (۴.۴%) follow vaccination schedules whiles ۹۵.۶% do not. Modern treatment was practiced by ۳۱.۹% whiles ۱.۱% use ethno-veterinary medicine. The majority of the farmers (۷۶.۷%) used Amoxicillin antibiotics whiles ۶.۷% and ۱۳.۳% use Sulfa and Flagyl (metronidazole) drugs. The medicaments identified were used in treating symptoms and ailments such as anorexia, paresis, fowl cholera, and paralysis. Avian botulism was the prevalent disease in the study area. In terms of action on sick ducks, ۲۴.۲% of the farmers slaughtered and consumed sick ducks whiles ۳۳% treated their sick ducks. From the study disease management of ducks in the metropolis has not been given much attention by farmers however, with much extension education on these the farmers would obtain many benefits from their production.

Keywords:

Disease , Anas Plathrynchus , Biosecurity , Vaccination