Socio-economic importance of family poultry in Senegal

Abstract

A one-year longitudinal survey was carried out in 45 poultry farms in Salémata Department (Senegal) to show the contribution of family poultry to poverty alleviation and food security in a household. The results showed that chicken numbers increased from 17.1 to 23.4 hens. The most important causes of variation in hen numbers in a household were consumption (25.5%), losses (38.68%) and sales (31.22% hens). The most frequent causes of mortality were predators (Raptors: 21.61% and cats: 65.80%). The most important circumstances of consumptions were religious holidays (37.97%) and year-end (26.06%), the household (14.34%) or to welcome a host (11.52%). The eggs laid (10.2) are almost all incubated (10.1). The hatching rate and chicks' mortality were 81.36% and 47.11%, respectively. The return (profit/investment) with family consumption was 4.05. The average annual consumption of eggs and chickens per household was 56.7 eggs and 48 chickens in a household size of 7 people. This study shows that family poultry constitute an improving food security and poverty alleviation. Researches are to be done to improve chick protection, feeding and bird health.