Piggery Farmers' Awareness of the Implications of the Use of Aflatoxins Contamination of Feedstuffs in the Humid Tropics : An Evaluation

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2012 in the subject Agrarian Studies, , language: English, abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate piggery farmers'awareness of aflatoxins contamination of feedstuffs and its implications in pig production in Nsukka zone. A survey research was conducted using a structured questionnaire which was validated by an agricultural measurement and evaluation experts. The questionnaire was used to collect data from the piggery farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics option ofGenstat computer package (Discovery edition 3). The result of this study revealed that piggery farmers are aware of aflatoxins infestation, but know little about its economic and health implications on pig production and pork consumers. They also indicated that they are adopting various local and technical methods such as avoiding damp environment, sprinkling ashes and saw-dusts on top of the feedstuffs, in order to reduce the incidence of aflatoxins development in the feedstuffs they use to feed their pig stocks. They stated that they were not aware that feeding pigs with aflatoxins contaminated food reminants and feeds poses a serious health risk to both the pigs and pork consumers, as they are interested in minimizing the cost of production rather than the welfare of the pigs and pork consumers. Pigs fed with aflatoxin contaminated feedstuffs, have stunted growth, poor feed intake and liver damage, when consumed by humans cause diseasessuch as liver cancer, kidney and nervous disorders, cirrhosis and mutagenswhich have been proven by researchers. Hence the need to ascertain the extent of piggery farmers' awareness of toxins, which will serve as an indicator on the level of risks exposure of both pigs and pork consumers in the zone. It was therefore recommended that more awareness should be created to both the crop and livestock farmers on the economic and health implications of aflatoxins in the food chain. Farmers should be strongly encouraged to adopt a good preventive and control strategies both in the field, storage and handling of feeds and feed ingredients in order to avert a possible outbreak of aflatoxicosis if uncheck-mated.