Around 50,000 poultry are to be vaccinated in the Likuyani District.

A Swiss-funded NGO has embarked on vaccinate of 50,000 chicken in Likuyani district, reports The Star of Nairobi. SCC-VI Agro Forestry, operating in Kitale, hopes to save farmers from losses caused by poultry diseases. The organisation has funded a community based organisation – Kongoni agricultural community – and is targeting 50 CBOs within the district.

The officer coordinating the project, George Wasike, said the exercise has commenced in Seregea, Soy, Likuyani and Mawe Tatu where over 2,500 poultry were vaccinated.

“We expect to have vaccinated over 15,000 birds in the district during the three-month long exercise,” he said.

Mr Wasike said the NGO was working together with the Ministry of Livestock and Development. He said the exercise was undertaken after farmers in the area complained of losing their poultry between May and November from treatable and preventable diseases. He said the exercise is the first in the area. He added that the poultry keepers will also be educated on the need to vaccinate their birds frequently to avoid losses.

Total broiler production for 2010 amounted to 969 million broilers or 1.3 million tons of meat, four per cent more than the 931 million broilers or 1.25 million tons of meat produced in 2009, according to the latest GAIN report from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. In 2011, broiler production is expected to reach 980 million broilers or 1.315 million tons of meat, representing a one per cent increase from 2010.

Read the extended report HERE

NIGERIA – Value chain opportunities for investment in the Nigerian poultry industry is the theme of the Nigerian poultry show to be held next week.

Poultry Digital – Two weekly eBulletin for the global poultry industry. The exhibition at Bishop’s Court Abeokuta, Ogun State, will take place on 1-2 November. The show will help to establish close links between poultry farmers, input suppliers and all stakeholders.

The organisers, the Poultry Association of Nigeria South West Zone say the exhibition will help improve the value for poultry business in Nigeria by bringing together various players in the value chain from Europe, Asia, United State and Africa.

Nigeria’s poultry production is estimated at 60 million broilers a year and 53 million layers with per capita egg consumption of 61.

Livestock prices have dropped by about 70 per cent in drought-stricken districts. A cow is selling for about Sh4,000 in these areas from Sh13,000.

A joint report by the government, World Food Programme, USAid and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network links the decline to lack of water and pasture.

The Kenya Food Security Report said 15 per cent of animals had died in Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Moyale, eastern Samburu and northern Isiolo.

Read the full article HERE

South African poultry producers are facing shrinking exports after the Zimbabwe government banned all poultry importation from South Africa, according to Supreme Poultry manager Izaak Breitenbach.

The Zimbabwean Poultry Association (ZPA) has alleged that South African and South American poultry were heavily injected with a brine saltwater solution, to levels as high as 40%, the South African newspaper The Star reported on Tuesday. The solution increased bird weight when frozen, but it seeped out before or during cooking, leaving the actual meat content at 60-70% of the original weight, the ZPA said.

The association said it also suffered of unfair competition because South African chickens were fed genetically modified maize ingredients, which compromised the quality of the meat. Zimbabwean farmers are understood to have lobbied their government because they had built up large stockpiles, which they had failed to sell because of competition mainly from South Africa and Brazil.

Read the full article HERE