As in most countries, hens are the highest farmed land animals in Nigeria. The country has a thriving poultry industry which produces an estimated 180 million chickens annually, the second largest in Africa, and is the largest producer of eggs in Africa with an estimated annual production of over 1.5 billion eggs. The Nigerian poultry industry is considered the most commercialized and well-established of the country’s agricultural sub-sector. However, the welfare conditions of these farmed hens in the country and the rest of Africa are a cause for immediate concern. Findings from our preliminary studies reveal that there is poor knowledge regarding hen welfare and animal sentience among farmers and stakeholders. Additionally, over 60% of layer-hen farms in Nigeria utilize battery cage systems, posing significant challenges to the health, productivity, and overall well-being of chickens.
In light of these pressing issues, we have instituted a number of interventions to address this. These have included public education and media advocacy through radio talk shows, cage-free social media campaigns, webinars on Hen Welfare and Housing, and several in-person engagements with stakeholders in the poultry industry and value-chain. We have taken concrete actions on supporting the farmers’ transition to cage-free systems. These include the implementation of the Hen Welfare and Housing Training Workshops for veterinarians and poultry farmers, and our participation in the 2023 Nigeria Poultry Show. Now, based on demand by several poultry stakeholders in the country, we are happy to share the results of one of our most important project outcomes – The Hen Welfare Training Guide.
The Hen Welfare Training Guide is a comprehensive resource that establishes systematic and holistic guidance to educate and build the capacity of poultry farmers and stakeholders in the poultry value chain on the need for hen welfare, cage-free farming and transitioning, and other important health and welfare guidelines. This training guide is meticulously crafted to align with global animal welfare standards. The guide provides an overview of poultry farming in Nigeria; introduces the concept of animal welfare and hen welfare; introduces common poultry housing systems, addresses the challenges associated with the battery cage farming system; discusses alternative housing systems for hens; provides guidance on transitioning from battery cages to cage-free farming systems; and discusses best practices for poultry health, welfare and productivity.
We appreciate the generous technical and financial support from The Humane League and the Open Wing Alliance in the development and implementation of this Training Guide. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all writing contributions and reviews of the Hen Welfare training guide. The contributions from Dr. Kikiope Oluwarore, Dr. Temitope Lawal, Samuel Ogah, Dr. Amarachi Ezeocha, Ilunamien Aisedion, Dr. Paula Baker, Dr. Oluwaseun Iyasere, and Aurelia Adhiambo are greatly appreciated. It is with their collective input we have succeeded in delivering a standard resource tool to advance the poultry industry in Nigeria, Africa, and other regions where hen welfare remains an overlooked aspect of poultry farming.
At OHDI, we are committed to encouraging a culture of compassion, responsibility, and excellence within the poultry industry. As such, our Hen Welfare training guide stands as an indispensable resource for poultry farmers, farm managers, vendors of poultry products, veterinarians, consumers, and others in the value chain. Additionally, it offers invaluable insights for students, researchers, policymakers, and legislators in the field of animal welfare.
This is inspiring,great work