This document summarizes a case study of Omeiza Farm, a small-scale poultry egg production business in Nigeria. The farm started with 500 pullets and specialized in egg production using a deep litter system. Key aspects summarized include the rationale for starting the business, general farm information including location and capacity, housing requirements, factors that affected egg production such as temperature and lighting, challenges encountered, and recommendations to improve small-scale poultry production.

1. Small Scale Poultry Egg Production
Enterprise: A Case Study of
Omeiza Farm
AGBAJE OMEIZA ADEBAYO
Matric No: 196442
A SEMINAR PAPER SUBMITTED TOTHE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
NIGERIA
SUPERVISOR: PROF. M. A ONILUDE
SEPTEMBER, 2016
By

2. About this Seminar work
• This seminar work is about my post National Youth Service
Corp(NYSC) experience
• Small scale poultry production enterprise managed between 2012 and
2014 specialized only on egg production
• The business started with 500day old commercial pullet and were
raised on deep litter throughout their production cycle.

3. INTRODUCTION
 Agriculture employs about two-thirds of Nigeria’s total labour force and
contributed 42.2% of Gross Domestic Products in 2007. (Daniel, 2009)
 More than 90% of the agricultural output is accounted for by small-scale
farmers with less than two hectares for crop production. (Olayemi, 2005)
 The Nigerian poultry industry is estimated at ₦80 billion ($600 million).
• Produced 650,000 MT of eggs
• 290,000 MT of poultry meat in 2013. (Sahel Capital Limited, 2015)

4. HISTORICAL GROWTH OF NIGERIA POULTRY PRODUCTION
Source: Sahel news letter, volume 11. June 2015

5. 650,000
535,000
308,000 310,000
272,000
97,000
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
Nigeria South
Africa
Algeria Egypt Morocco Kenya
Egg Production
African Countries
POULTRY EGG PRODUCTION IN AFIRICA AS OF 2013
Source: Sahel news letter, volume 11. June 2015

6. Rationale for starting a Poultry egg
Production Business
 Unemployment
 Egg demand was high (Most times demand was always higher than
supply)
 Sustainability of Commercial egg type layers (48 weeks)
 Start up capital is lower for Deep liter production system

7. General Information About Omeiza Farm.
1. Location:
• Located in Abobo, a small community in Adavi local government area of Kogi state
• There was no residential building or water body where the business was sited.
2. Capacity of the Poultry Business
• The business started with 500 pullets, while about 20 percent mortality occurred before
laying phase leaving about 400 Layers
• The business produced on average of 8 crates of eggs daily
3. Water source for poultry activities
• Source of water was from a manually dogged well
• Distance from the source of water to the poultry house should be minimal
• Water source should be reliable and safe for birds
4. Skill and Experience
• Experience is key to any successful poultry business
• Information from online materials and experienced farmers

8. Cost of Pullet, cost of Feed, energy cost
miscellaneous (Litter, Transportation)
Poultry structures, Poultry equipment, land.
Production Cost
Variable/Operational Cost Fixed Cost
Table showing the expected cost structure of the operational cost in poultry egg sub sector
(Source: Mathews W. A and Sumner D. A., August, 2014)
Variable Cost Percentages in reference to Initial cost
Cost of Feeding and Medication 69.44%
Pullet Cost 24.18%
Labour 3.11%
Energy Cost 2.28%
Miscellaneous 1.00%

9. Poultry Housing Requirement and design
A good poultry house should protect the birds from the
following
• Harsh weather condition (High Temperature, Rain)
• Predator and Theft
• Poultry house should be dry and will ventilated
• Orientation of the building with reference to sunlight and wind
• Well drained soil to prevent dampness and saturation of the floor

10. Factors that affected egg Production
 Material Selection: Effective production, comfort and Cost
• Temperature
• Relative Humidity: Good Ventilation, Stock density and moisture control
Temperature (oC) Effects
11-26 Good Production (Zone Temperature)
26-28 Some reduction in feed intake
28-32 Increased water intake and low feed conversion
efficiency
32-35 Slight panting
35-40 Heat prostrate, measures to cool the house must be taken
40 and above Mortality due to heat stress

11. Factors for effective production Continued
 Light schedule: Laying birds requires 16 hrs of lighting and 8hr of resting period
achievable in controlled environment poultry house
 Floor space requirement:
Age Floor space requirement
0-8 weeks 450 cm2
9-16 weeks 900c m2
17-76 weeks 1800 cm2
Showing space requirement at different ages
Showing Birds on deep liter at week 25

12.  Age:
(Source: Jacquie J. May 2015)
 Vaccination and disease control: Administered at different age, and depends on
weather and location
Sample of egg produced at Omeiza Farm

13. Challenges Encountered
• High priced and poor quality poultry feed
• Poor road network for transportation of poultry products
• Problems associated with expired vaccines
• Decline in the performance of commercial layer
• Egg glut associated to poor storage facility

14. Critical review of Omeiza Poultry Farm
 The Use of deep liter method instead of cage type system
 Use of tradition feeders and drinkers instead of automatic feeders
and nipple type drinkers
 Use of overpriced finished feed instead of feed formulation
according to bird’s nutritional requirement.
 Reliability on natural lighting instead of controlled artificial
lighting program for improved yield.

15. Conclusion
• Relatively lower startup cost
• Source of gainful employment
• Numbers of birds raised will determine the income
Recommendations
• Capacity training of poultry farmers to enable them cope with the challenges of
modern poultry farming and commercialization of the poultry sub-sector.
• Policies such as encouraging bank and financial institutions to reduce
lending rate associated with money borrowed for agricultural purposes