Farmer's perception and efficacy of use of winged termite as a source of nutrient in chicken feeds in Gulu City

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the farmers’ perception and the effect of the use of winged termites as a source of nutrients in chicken poultry feeds in Gulu city. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 30 respondents and 30 broilers using cross-sectional survey and experimental designs respectively. Results indicated that all respondents had used winged termites, mainly for food (n = 21, 70%). Many (n = 24, 80%) think winged termites can be used as poultry feed mainly on chicken (n = 21, 70%) which the majority keep for food (n =15, 50%). Many think winged termites are easy to harvest through trapping with light especially from February – May (n = 25, 83.3%). The majority of respondents (n = 26, 86.7); believe the quantity of winged termites supplied to Gulu city range from 1,000 – 5,000 kg, were willing to adopt to the use of winged termite feed formulation and or investment in the venture. On why they were not yet using winged termites in their feed formulation, respondents mainly mentioned seasonality (4.20), unavailability (4.23), and lack of interest (3.07). However, the majority (n = 26, 86.7%) have ever used insects (including winged termites, termites, and grasshoppers) for feeding poultry. The independent t-test results indicate no significant difference between the mean weights of birds from the control and experimental groups (t28 = 0.209, p > 0.5), 95% CI = [-0.03723 – 0.16257]; suggesting that winged termites can be used as an alternative additive in feed formulation without any adverse effect. The results indicate birds from the experimental group ate more of the feeds allocated to them, and this suggests that probably blending the feed with winged termites increased feed acceptability. More research needs to be done involving more participants and a longer period of feeding.