Common Chicken Diseases in Smallholder Farming: A Review

Abstract

Smallholder chicken farming is an important
source of food and income for millions of people
around the world as well as in rural areas.
However, chicken diseases can cause significant
losses to smallholder farmers. The objective of this
review is to discuss the most common chicken
diseases in smallholder farming, and to discuss
the challenges that smallholder farmers face in
preventing and controlling chicken diseases. As
methodology, this paper summarizes and
synthesizes the existing research on the common
chicken diseases in smallholder farming. The
results showed that there are a variety of chicken
diseases, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria,
parasites, and fungi. One of the biggest challenges
in preventing and controlling chicken diseases is
the lack of access to veterinary care and vaccines
for smallholder farmers. Another challenge is the
lack of knowledge about chicken diseases among
many smallholder farmers. However, chicken
diseases can be prevented and controlled through
a variety of measures, including: vaccination,
biosecurity, and good management practices. For
recommendation, farmers should avoid selecting
seeds in the nest for breeding, and farmers should
use animal feed that is self-produced and
composed of existing raw materials in the village
or district, especially farmers who should be
adequately vaccinated against chicken disease