Volume : 2, Issue : 9, September - 2013

Pig Farmers Knowledge of the Prevalence of Mycotoxin in Feedstuffs : A Case Study of Pig Farms in Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State – Nigeria

Onyimonyi Anselm Ego, Ugwu, Simeon Ogochukwu, Ekwu Ugochukwu, Juliana Ukonze

Abstract :

A study was conducted to evaluate pig farmers’ knowledge of the prevalence of mold contamination and the risk of mycotoxin poisoning of their animals. Seventy two pig farmers in Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria were used for the study. Structured questionnaires which were validated by an Agricultural measurement and evaluation experts in the Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka were used to collect data from the pig farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics option of Genstat computer package (Discovery edition 3). 95 per cent of the farmers had sufficient knowledge that pigs are vulnerable to mold contaminated feedstuffs which may predispose the animals to mycotoxin poisoning. Responses from the farmers indicated that palm kernel cake, Bambara waste, cassava peels, cassava roots and ewers spent grains were the feedstuffs frequently used to feed pigs in the area. Result indicated that Bambara waste was more prone to mold contamination, whereas cassava peel was the least contaminated by molds. 90 percent had measures in place to curb mold contamination of the common feedstuffs the use in feeding their pigs. The pig farmers were also able to interpret clinical signs of mycotoxin poisoning arising from mold contamination of the feedstuffs. It is concluded that pig farmers in Nsukka Agricultural Zones have knowledge of mold contamination of the feedstuffs they commonly use and already have measures in place to checkmate mold contamination of their feeding stuffs.