Assessment of Poultry Management Practices and Their Association with Newcastle Disease Outbreaks in Oyo State

This study evaluates the relationship between poultry management practices and the occurrence of Newcastle disease outbreaks in selected local government areas of Oyo State, located in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone. Newcastle disease remains one of the most devastating viral infections in Nigerian poultry production, with outbreaks causing significant mortality and economic losses, particularly among smallholder farmers operating backyard and semi-commercial flocks. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, the study administered structured questionnaires to 180 poultry farmers across three local government areas and conducted clinical and serological examinations of 450 birds from affected flocks. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests were performed to confirm Newcastle disease virus exposure in sampled flocks. Information on vaccination history, biosecurity protocols, stocking density, and feed management was collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that 74 percent of affected flocks had no documented vaccination history, while 61 percent practiced mixed-age housing, a significant risk factor for viral persistence. Inadequate biosecurity, including open housing and the movement of live birds without veterinary clearance, was identified in over 80 percent of outbreak-associated farms. The study recommends mass vaccination campaigns, improved biosecurity education, and regular veterinary outreach programmes targeting smallholder poultry farmers in Oyo State. Keywords: Newcastle disease, poultry management, biosecurity, vaccination, Oyo State.