Factors influencing the utilisation of poultry feed additives and farmer’s perceptions of their quality in selected parishes of Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District

Abstract

Poultry production constitutes a critically important enterprise in Uganda, contributing substantially to household food security, income generation and rural employment. Although feed additives are widely recognized for their potential to enhance growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and disease resistance, their utilization among small holder farmers remains inconsistent and the quality of products available on local markets is poorly regulated. Against this background, the present study was designed to assess the factors influencing the utilization of poultry feed additives and to evaluate farmers’ perceptions of their quality among poultry producers in selected parishes of Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District. Across sectional survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 100 poultry farmers selected through a multistage purposive sampling from five parishes. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via kobo Toolbox, and all analyses were carried out using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics, multiple response analysis and chi square tests. The findings revealed that vitamins, growth promoters and minerals were the most widely utilized additive categories, whereas probiotics and antioxidants were never used. Expected benefits for birds, price and professional advice emerged as the primary drivers of Utilizations, while high cost was most frequently cited barrier. Although farmers generally held positive perceptions of additive quality, a substantial proportion reported encountering poor quality products, checked only limited label information, and rarely reported quality concerns to regulatory authorities. It is concluded that, despite generally favorable perceptions of feed additive quality, significant challenges persist, including cost barriers, product quality inconsistencies, unsupervised use of growth promoters and week regulatory enforcement.it is recommended that the Animal feed Act ,2024 be expedited, that complaint reporting mechanisms be strengthened, and that targeted farmer training on responsible additive use be prioritized.