Comparative Analysis of Battery Cage and Deep Litter Poultry Housing Systems in Abia State, Nigeria C

The study was centered on the comparative analysis of battery cage and deep litter poultry housing systems in Abia state, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the factors influencing the choice of poultry housing system in the study area; estimated the profitability of battery cage and deep litter system in the area; analyzed the determinants of profit in battery cage and deep litter systems respectively; and examined the constraints faced by poultry farmers in the area. Primary data source was used for the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in the selection of 140 respondents. Descriptive statistics like frequency, tables, charts, etc; profitability index (cost and returns analysis) and multiple regression were the tools of analysis. From the cost and return analysis, it was observed that both housing systems are profitable. The t test result showed that housing system adopted for poultry farms have an effect on the profit. However, it was observed that farmers using deep litter system make more profit when compared to battery cage housing system. It was observed that battery cage system is more capital intensive when compared to deep litter system and this predisposes most famers to favour deep litter housing system to battery cage system. Sex, marital status, education, mortality rate, cost of production, farm size, experience and access to credit were significant variables having varying effects on the profit of battery cage users while sex, household size, education, mortality, cost of production, farm size, experience were the significant variables influencing the returns of deep litter users in the study area. High cost of feeds, inadequate amenities, high interest rates, quality of stock etc. where the major constraints of poultry production in the area. The study recommends that governments should subsidize the cost of feeds to make it affordable for farmers in the study area.