Poultry Disease: what you need to know

 

Poultry disease is a serious issue that must be addressed. It has been a long-standing issue in the poultry industry and is a major source of concern for farmers and investors. Poultry disease is serious because of the effects it has on poultry health and productivity, which has a direct impact on the poultry industry, both farmers and off takers.

In this article, we will discuss what poultry disease is, some of its symptoms, how it affects the industry, and potential solutions to this growing concern.

What is the poultry disease?

Poultry farming is a profitable industry, but it can be ruined by the devastating effects of diseases. Poultry diseases are caused by infectious microorganisms that can be viral, bacterial, or fungal in nature. Infectious bacteria such as Salmonella, E.coli, and Campylobacter are frequently associated with poultry diseases. Because of their acute and highly contagious nature, viral diseases are commonly referred to as infectious respiratory diseases. Ornithosis is a viral disease that can be transmitted through airborne fecal particles and has a high mortality rate. Fungal diseases, such as Aspergillosis, are also extremely lethal on poultry farms because they can infect both the birds and the eggs from which they hatch.

What are the symptoms of poultry disease?

Depending on the type of poultry disease, the following symptoms may be present:

• Weakness
• Incoordination
• Clamminess
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Isolation
• Death

How does poultry disease affect the poultry industry?

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects birds. Contact with respiratory secretions, such as blood droppings, from an infected bird, spreads the virus. The disease can cause severe respiratory illness and even death in poultry. The disease has resulted in significant economic losses for the poultry industry, as well as a global food supply disruption.

The avian influenza virus A virus's subtypes are determined by two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). These can have up to 16 H subtypes and 9 N subtypes. In chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other domestic birds, AIVs cause respiratory tract disease.

The bird flu is a highly contagious virus that affects poultry, causing respiratory disease in chickens, turkeys, and other poultry birds. In severe cases, the virus can kill a large number of birds.

The bird flu virus is a member of the same virus family as the common cold and the SARS virus. It is thought to be spread through the air, usually through contact with respiratory secretions or blood from an infected bird. The disease can be devastating to the poultry industry because it can kill a large number of birds. The bird flu virus is most commonly found in countries in the southern hemisphere.

Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) This virus paralyzes and kills many bird species, including chickens, turkeys, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl, pigeons, parrots, emus, and ostriches. NDV has caused some of the most severe economic losses in the poultry industry. The virus is made up of three major components: nucleoprotein (NP), matrix protein (M), and fusion glycoprotein (F).

The infectious bursal disease virus 1 causes infectious bursal disease (IBDV-1). IBD is an acute viral infection that primarily affects young animals under the age of six weeks. Mortality rates range from 10% to 100%, depending on age, breed, and environmental conditions. Depression, loss of appetite, ruffled feathers, pale comb, diarrhea, and sometimes runny eyes are symptoms.

What are some potential solutions to the poultry disease?

There are numerous remedies for poultry disease. Vaccination, antibiotics, fungicides, and insecticides are some solutions. Vaccination can help keep your birds healthy by keeping disease at bay. Antibiotics can help treat any disease in your birds and keep them healthy. Fungicides and insecticides, respectively, can help protect your birds from harmful fungi and insects.

To summarize, poultry disease is a serious issue that must be addressed. Every year, diseases kill millions of poultry birds. Among the most common diseases affecting poultry are chicken pox, avian flu, and bacterial infections. Diseases aren't the only things that can harm your poultry business. Bird populations can also decline due to malnutrition and insufficient feed.

For those considering starting a poultry business, this is something to consider before you get started. If you are unfortunate enough to have a poultry disease outbreak, it is critical that you know which one it is and how to treat it. 

Treating your flock for diseases such as avian flu necessitates strict conditions and proper medication that can only be administered by a qualified veterinarian, and even then, some of your birds may not recover. Marek's disease is a common disease that affects chickens. This is caused by a strain of herpesvirus that cannot be passed from bird to bird, so there is no need to be concerned about the virus spreading. It can be transmitted through the air, as well as through contaminated feed and water. If you notice any of these symptoms in your chickens, contact your local veterinarian right away.

Animal Health: the umbrella of livestock heath

 

Animal health is an umbrella term that encompasses animal health from conception to death. Proper animal health starts with proper animal upbringing, which includes providing clean and nutritious food and water, adequate shelter, and good biosecurity. Proper animal health also includes disease prevention and treatment, as well as population management to ensure the long-term viability of the animal production system.

Methods for ensuring livestock health.

When raising livestock, animal health is an important consideration. The health of the animals you raise is critical to their and your success. Some of the most important ways to ensure the health of your livestock are as follows:

• Regularly inspecting the animals' health. Looking for signs of illness, injury, or disease is part of this.
• Vaccinating animals for common diseases.
• Feeding a balanced diet that is tailored to the needs of the animal
• Providing plenty of clean water and adequate shelter
• Ensure that the animals are handled and treated properly during transport, slaughter, and processing.

The value of animal health in the food industry

The food industry places a high value on animal health. Proper animal health can increase output while decreasing disease incidence. Disease can cause significant economic and animal welfare losses.

The food industry has recently placed a greater emphasis on animal health. This is because good animal health can lead to high-quality animal products, which can boost consumer satisfaction and food demand.

There are numerous factors that can have an impact on animal health, both internally and externally. Genetics, diet, environment, infections, parasites, and injuries are all examples of risk factors. Each of these factors can affect an animal's health and well-being and can be addressed to improve their health.

There are numerous methods for improving animal health.

Improving animal health can lead to higher output, lower animal costs, and better animal welfare. Improving feed quality is one way to improve animal health. Increase the number of nutrients and vitamins in the feed, add supplements, or change the feed composition to improve feed quality. Reduce the number of contaminants in the feed to improve feed quality.

Improving animal nutrition is another way to improve animal health. Increase the number of nutrients and vitamins in the feed, add supplements, or change the feed composition to improve animal nutrition.

Improving the environment in which the animals are raised is one way to improve animal welfare. The environment can be improved by reducing the number of pollutants in the air, water, and soil, improving shelter quality, and increasing farm biosecurity.

Animal welfare in research.

Because of the close relationship between animal and human health, animal health is a major topic of research and concern. Animal-human health interactions are thought to account for roughly one-third of all human disease.  Animal health is an important aspect of food safety and public health.

Animal health is a broad subject that includes animal biology, animal behavior, veterinary medicine, food safety, and public health. It is also a rapidly expanding field due to the increasing number of animals and their interactions with humans. Animal health researchers are constantly developing new methods and technologies to maintain and improve the health of animals and humans.

One of the primary goals of animal health research is to create methods for preventing and treating animal diseases. Animal diseases can be financially and psychologically devastating to both the animals and the people who raise them.

The subject of animal health is complicated.

Animal health is a complicated subject with no single answer to every question. Every animal is unique, as are all situations. This means that no single approach is always the best solution. It is critical to work with a veterinarian who is familiar with your specific situation and your animals in order to receive the most effective animal health care possible.

When it comes to animal health, there are a few key points to remember. First and foremost, always ensure that your animals are receiving the best possible food and water. Second, be on the lookout for any changes in behavior or appearance. If you notice any unusual symptoms, take your animals to the vet as soon as possible.

Finally, be ready to answer any questions that your veterinarian may have. You can help ensure that your animals receive the best possible care by becoming familiar with animal health. 

How To Raise Turkey From Day-Old

Turkey is a domesticated bird mainly known for their meat production. They are part of the most common poultry birds raised by farmers. It's mostly raised in free-range systems. The most common breed of Turkey are

• Imported: These breeds have a special genetic makeup, which makes them unique among its peers in the field of poultry birds. It's know for their growth rate, size, and weight. They are known to reach slaughtering at the age of 3–4 months.
• Hybrid: These breeds are being made by some farmers after a failed attempt to have a pure breed of imported breeds of Turkey. This is done by mating imported breeds with local breeds. Making them have the characteristics of both breeds. They get to slaughter age at 5–7 months. They have much of the imported breeds' traits with height, weight, and growth rate. Due to their percentage purity, they fail to march up to that of imported breeds.
• Local: This is the most common breed of Turkey, with a good feed conversion rate, high performance when raised in a free-range system, and with a high disease resistance level. They have good meat quality and reach slaughtering at 7–12 months.

No matter the breed you are planning to stock, be it imported, hybrid or local breed. You need to have some basic knowledge on how to raise poultry birds from day-old. To become successful in raising your flock; what you need to do includes:

Brooding house: You have to pick a good room with an excellent lighting source and heat source. Making sure all necessary equipment and materials needed are in place.

Equipment and materials: Your litter and heat source should be set up inside the room before arrival of the birds. Feeders should be installed. I would advise not to use the feeder trails; it encourages floor picking, leading to them eating their feces, which will lead to transmission of diseases. Use the invention for chicks feeders, it will boost their feeding rate and eliminate the act of defecating inside their feed. Drinkers should be set along with the feeders.

Feeds: In any living thing, be it humans or animals, food is essential to life. There is a required feed for chicks from a day-old to 4 weeks of age. I'm not in to recommend any feed manufacturer, I can just advise if you can get a good feed mill, please mill your feed with crude protein (CP) of 22—25%. Consult a good animal nutritionist to help you out with a good feed formula if this CP. It helps to speed up their growth and helps to boost their immune system against any infection or disease. In case, no reliable feed mill is close to you, go for pelletized feed (Crumble) chicks starter from a reliable feed manufacturer.

Medication: There are different medication and vaccination schedules for chickens, but turkeys have no specialized medication chart. Most farmers have improvised by using medication charts for broiler chickens, which works.

At arrival, ensure you give your birds glucose to suppress transit stress they have to encounter. Likewise, locate the navel of each bird and clean it with spirit or any mint. This is important to reduce mortality and infection in birds.

Litter Management in a Poultry House

Litters are absorbent materials, typically in granular form, straw, or other plant materials used as bedding for animals. Every poultry pen floor is expected to be filled with litter, mostly deep-liter systems. These help in absorbing the moisture from the bird's pop and make the pen clean and safe from disease manifestation.

Why are litters significant in poultry management? 

It's a known fact that poultry birds take in food and water, process it in their body systems, and release it out through their vents. Once this is done, the process continues not only for one bird, but for all. To avoid air pollution and to make the pen easy to clean, litter is introduced into the pen as an absorbent and also as a layer to protect the floor from being stocked with the feces of the birds.

What are the implications of bad litter?

Bad litter causes numerous complications for the farmers in the farm house. Starting with the moisture, the pen always gets wet quickly, more like water is being poured on the floor nonstop, which will make the room uncomfortable for the birds, and likewise, the farmer, whose stress is increased with regular cleaning. Furthermore, it harbors numerous diseases, which leads to an increase in disease transmission among the birds. This happens as soon as there is ammonia buildup inside the pen.

What type of litter is best for poultry pens? 

There are several available litters being used by farmers; some are bad and some are good. Straws, sawdust, wood shavings, rice husks, shafts, and other agricultural litters are examples. All the mentioned litters being used by farmers, only one is generally accepted as the best of them all, which is wood shavings. Some mistake wood shavings for sawdust; both are different. Sawdust is harmful to birds, mostly chicks. It is observed that it causes chronic respiratory disease and also harbors numerous diseases associated with it. The rest of the litter's level of moisture retaining capacity is very low, which makes them unreliable for poultry pen floors. 

How can I get good litter?

These never require any special tactics, so find them. As stated earlier, wood shavings are the best litter for poultry pen floors. To get wood shavings, all you need to do is visit any sawmill around you. If you are finding it difficult to find one, consult your carpenter to help you out with getting it. Some sawmills will give you this free of charge depending on the quantity, while most will charge you for it per sac. 

Poor litter management is not an experience you would like to have. Once there is an outbreak inside the farm, tracing the source will be a bit difficult for the vet. To control the breakout will require tackling the litter first before any solution can be implemented to avoid recycling of the disease. If you have more questions or wish to share your experiences with us, kindly use the comment box. 

Lighting Management in the Poultry Brooding House

In daily human activities, light plays an important role, be it eating, drinking, working, and playing. This is also applicable to the lives of animals as well as plants. Light is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible, while the process of dealing with or controlling things or people is known as management.

 

This article, Lighting Management in the Poultry Farm Brooding House, aims at the managerial aspect of the lighting source in the brooding house, the importance of lighting, and the duration.

 

Why is an extra light source essential in the poultry farm brooding house?

This is a question that most farmers ask almost every time. Some just give light to the chicks because they are told to do so without knowing the significance of doing so. Still, the question still baffles them. Light, as it has been stated earlier, is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. It is observed that chicks require a percentage of nutrition in their diet in the first week of their life. This is mainly to help speed up their growth rate, build their feathers in other ways, protect them from colds and build their immune systems.

 

What's the time frame for using light?

As light is important to the chicks, there is time for everything. Light sources should be made available for the chicks nonstop, meaning throughout the day and night every day, and the minimum time for the withdrawal of light sources from the birds in the brooding house is 3 days. It depends on your financial strength, the breed of birds, and the purpose of the birds. For those raising broiler chickens for a targeted time of 5 to 6 weeks of production, it is best to provide constant lighting for the birds until sales, which should be at 5 weeks of age.

 

Can't I just give them light at night alone?

Giving the chicks light at night is not a bad idea. Running the light nonstop creates a situation whereby some parts of the brooding room are dark, making some chicks cluster despite an excellent room temperature and some avoiding feeding. To give light only at night, the farmer must make sure there is a perfect reflection of light rays entering the room.

 

I don't know the best light source I can use.

Truly, not all lighting sources are reliable enough to be used inside the brooding house. The use of the lantern will consume kerosene, and still, the reflection won't be enough to reach every corner of the room; also, the fuel might finish at an awkward time. Using a generator as a power source is a good idea, but it's very costly to maintain it. The best lighting sources for the brooding room that I can suggest are any battery-powered lighting sources like rechargeable lamps or solar power sources.

 

Having a good power source helps to relieve the stress and panic level of the farmer when combined with good management and biosecurity. Lighting management is one of the key roles in setting up a poultry farm, and becoming a successful farmer requires good management skills. Don't forget to share your experiences with us in the comment box.

 

Heat Management in Poultry Birds' Brooding

Heat management in poultry birds' brooding is the monitoring and controlling of the form of energy that is transferred by a difference in the temperature of the poultry pen. It is highly important to have a maximum control of the room temperature at the stipulated temperature of 35 °C, which is the required room temperature for day-old chicks for the first 3 days.

You might be wondering why heat is essential?

To give an answer to your question, Let me start with this: since they are also living things, they go through some cycles that involve fertilization, egg formation, and hatching. During the process of hatching, the egg undergoes a level of temperature which helps in the development of the chicks inside the eggshell. Which brings me to the real point: they need time to adjust to the temperature outside the shell and to solidify their body systems, just like human beings.

What form of heat source can I use?

We have various heat sources, be it firewood, charcoal, lanterns, electric bulbs, electric heaters, stoves, etc. But not all the listed sources can be used in brooding houses as a source of heat. The most common heat sources used by poultry farmers are: lanterns, charcoal, brooding gas lamps, electric heaters, and bulbs. Most of these heat sources are easy to monitor and regulate to get a good result.

When should I start and stop using heat?

Knowing when to start and when to stop things brings out the perfection of the thing. This is applicable to brooding; you need to know when to introduce the heat, likewise the withdrawal period. It is best to introduce the heat into the brooding room a day before the arrival of the chicks to regulate the room temperature and humidity. Adjustment of the temperature on their arrival might not be conducive for some of the birds. A heat source is only needed during the first 3 days; after that, the temperature will be adjusted gradually till they have all their feathers grown, which should be at the age of 4 weeks old.

How will I know if the temperature is high or low?

To confirm the brooding house temperature, it is recommended to use a thermometer to have an accurate room temperature and humidity. In cases where this device is not available, check the activity of the birds to see if they cluster towards the heat source or move far away from it. Clustering means there is a drop in temperature while running away from feed and heat source shows excess heat. To get this right, ensure you feel heat when you are inside the room, about to sweat and not suffocating.

In conclusion, ensure you avoid using heat sources that produce smoke to avoid carbon monoxide buildups, which can lead to chronic respiratory disease (CRD) and other diseases in birds. Don't forget to share your experiences with us in the comment section. 

How To Raise Poultry Birds From Day-Old

Raising poultry birds from day-olds has always been an act most poultry farmers avoid. This is becoming a general attitude among most farmers nowadays. Even those that do raise theirs from a day-old are opting out of doing so. This is caused by so many challenges being faced by farmers from day-olds to the third week of their age.

Some Common Challenges Faced During the Brooding of Chicks

There are a lot of challenges encountered during the brooding of chicks, which usually lead to the total loss of the birds or the nursing of diseases among the flock throughout their lifetime. Some challenges include:

Heat Regulation: Most farmers find it difficult to get the accurate room temperature of the brooding house, which leads to the birds' clustering or running towards the wall to find a breezeway. This can lead to casualties and disease breeding amidst them.

Poor Litter Quality: The use of wood shavings has been the most common litter used in poultry farm management. Some farmers used other means like rice husks, shafts, etc. Most fail to understand the main reason behind litters in brooding, which is to absorb moisture released by the birds.

Ammonia Production: Excess moisture released by the birds through their droppings or clustering can lead to ammonia buildup, mostly if the shavings fail to absorb moisture. Likewise, the means of heat used are significant. Some use lanterns, stoves, charcoals, etc., and it's best to always check if there is no smoke produced from them.

Feed and Water Quality: The chicks need very high quality and chlorine-free water. They require regular water to avoid dehydration and a drop in their immune systems. Feeding assists a lot during this time frame. Starvation of the birds will lead to malnutrition, which is very dangerous to their health.

Lighting: It's best to give the birds a source of light for a full week to enable them to eat enough, grow feathers, and strengthen their immune systems.

These challenges are the most common issues faced by farmers during brooding, and they lead to complications. To avoid any of these issues and have a successful brood, some measures need to be established, which include:

✓ An excellent medication chart that will help to guide you throughout your production season. This is not only for the next 4 weeks, but for the whole production.

✓ Constantly check the birds to avoid clustering and to observe any changes in character.

✓ Always clean the surroundings of the feeders and drinkers to avoid any ammonia buildup. They constantly use these locations, and deposit their droppings there, leading to buildups of ammonia.

✓ Remove any sick birds or anyone acting strangely amidst them, to avoid the spread of disease and to have a good observation of what's about to come.

✓ Clean the navel of the chicks with spirit, or any mint upon arrival to avoid infection and reduce the mortality rate.

A successful poultry farm is not only in the management but also in your attitude and consistency. Your experiences and questions will be appreciated. Do share them for all to learn in the comment box.

How To Set Up a Poultry Farm

Poultry farming is one of the most popular agricultural industries that tends to generate more income for both the investor and the farmer. The daily demand for poultry products increases daily despite the increase in the price of the commodity in the market.

On this journey into poultry farming, you need a pointer to guide you through the basics of being a successful farmer. Poultry farming is divided into different groups, which are: laying birds, which are for table eggs; breeders, which are to reproduce more birds, and meat-producing birds. There are different types of domesticated poultry birds, which include chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and turkeys. The principles and modes of practice inherent in them are the same.

STEPS TO TAKE IN STARTING A POULTRY FARM

Your foundation of poultry farming must by now be very strong, mostly the major challenges involved in the poultry business, the likes of diseases, and biosecurity measures involved. Below are some steps to be taken to become a successful poultry farmer.

STEP 1: SELECT YOUR FAVORITE POULTRY BIRDS 

It's highly important to pick a particular breed of bird you intend to venture into. It's much more advisable to start with one breed and later advance with your experience in the field. Apart from locally raised birds, there are three major types of breeds in the poultry business.

Cockerels: These breeds are majorly grown for meat production just like broilers, with a maturity time of 8–12 months; sometimes they are majorly raised to target the Christmas and New Year festive seasons. It's also used by breeders' farmers to cross their laying birds for the fertility of eggs before hatching.

Broilers: These rare breeds of birds are known for their meat production, with a maturity age of 5–8 weeks depending on the type of breed, the feed given, and biosecurity measures involved. It is well known to most people as a bird raised majorly for festivities. Nowadays, it's no longer a seasonal bird as before. The importation ban levied by the Federal Government on agricultural products increased the demand for locally produced agricultural products, mostly frozen meat, in the market.

LAYERS: These are birds mainly known for their egg production, and they start producing eggs at the age of 18wks to 20wks, provided the management scope is done correctly. They always lay for 50 to 70 weeks depending on the breed, before production drops and they are ready to be sold.

STEP 2: CHOOSE A FARM LOCATION

The location of a farm contributes greatly to the growth and success of the farm. It's advisable to consider some of these things before picking a location;

• Your financial strength.
• Accessibility of the farm
• Accessibility to good water
• Biosecurity
• Pollution-free environment

If your backyard is big enough to contain a structure that can house the amount your financial strength can carry, please do it there and manage it well to avoid air pollution and disease spread. If not, search for a suitable location. Put it in mind to make sure you have a farmhouse on your farm location.

STEP 3: PEN CREATION

A pen is a place where poultry birds can call home; it is an important factor in successful poultry farming. It shields the birds from harsh weather, be it sun, rain, floods, or predators. There is a dimension drawn for the construction of a poultry house to aid good ventilation and free movement inside the pen. The dimensions schedule for a 100birds deep liter system is 200 square feet, that is, a 10ft by 20ft rectangular-shaped house with an 8ft height.

If egg production is your dream plan, a deep-liter system can also work out. But it has its demerits, which are usually egg-breaking, pecking among the birds, and the segregation issue of laying birds from barren ones. The most common practice is the cage system, in which a unit of the cage can house 90–120 birds.

STEP 4: MEDICATION AND FEEDING

As the adage says, "Health is Wealth." This also applies to animals. A good and nutritious feed helps the birds maintain their health and immune system. A bad diet does contain mycotoxin, which will allow fungus to operate in their system, leading the weak immune system to fight any disease that may be in their system, ultimately leading to serious complications.

Every breed of bird has its own traits of disease, which leads to their customized vaccination program and medication chart to tackle it before establishment. It's advisable to have an animal scientist or veterinary doctor for a checkup when issues are sensed or possibly for prevention's sake.

STEP 5: SALES AND MARKETING

Many farmers have experienced complications with the sales of their farm produce, mostly with the middlemen, usually called marketers by farmers. Due to the perishability of farm produce, it's a necessity to have a ready market for any produce a farmer is starting to avoid distressed sales and losses due to late sales.

There is a tactic mostly employed by the marketers. Once they sense the farmer has no other alternative market and no choice than to sell their produce, they tag the produce as a distressed sales commodity, which makes them price the produce to the point where the farmer ends up losing money. To avoid all this, it's best to get more than one buyer before your products reach maturity.

CONCLUSION

Poultry farming is very profitable if you know the right channel and have a good market. Have a good cycle of successful farmers around you; it's very possible to start with #50,000 and have a return of over #150,000 in 6 months. I make 40% of my capital as profit every 6 weeks, which I believe you can also do. If you wish to share your experiences or have a question, use the comment box and let's grow together.

Becoming A Successful Farmer: What You Need To Know

Farming, as we all know, is the practice of cultivating the land or raising animals, which is mostly considered an occupation or a way of life. Everyone is aware that farming is divided into two major categories: cropping systems and livestock production.

Success is not what can be attained in a day, but through a lot of effort, commitment, mistakes, and guidance from others. To become a successful farmer, you must have acquired great knowledge about the part of farming you are envisioning.

In today's Nigeria, we can all testify to the debasement of the economy, which can be seen in the increasing inflation rate of commodities. The agricultural sector of Nigeria faces many challenges which impact on its productivity, which include climate change, land degradation, the poor land tenure system, bad roads, etc.

Why did you want to start farming?

This is a very important question, to which I believe you should have gotten an answer. However, you have still yet to answer this question. Let me elaborate a bit on this to help you in your decision-making.

There are a series of personal reasons for starting a farm, whether venturing into cropping systems or livestock production. As the farmers slogan says, "No Farmer, No Nation", this proves that, without food, no living being on earth will be able to survive for long. All reasons for starting a farm can be categorized into two categories:

Consumption: In the local region, you will observe a lot of domestic animals in free-range, which are mostly for personal consumption. There are a lot of families out there that have backyard farms that might be pot-raised plants or cultivated on land. Vegetables and plantains/bananas fall into this category, which is mainly for home consumption.

You might be wondering why they are facing this kind of stress, I will say, most of the people in this category believe in fresh foods and possibly organic foods, which we all know are very good for our health. You can also join them today.

Profit Purpose: The unemployment rate in Nigeria today is increasing every day. This is happening because we are having graduates produced every year and our job creation level is very low. Income generated from salary is no longer enough to take care of daily home expenses; savings are nothing to write home about.

They invested in farming to cover for all possible financial lapses that they might be facing, or possibly they are investing in their future, much like a retirement fund. If you fall into this category, you’ve really thought well, and I congratulate you on the great step you have taken.

Where To Start If You Have Never Farmed Before?  

Farming, as it’s been stated earlier, has been divided into two sections: cropping systems and livestock production. Decision-making is very important in every step one needs to take in life; this can’t be done without having guiding steps to take. All you need to do to "become a successful farmer" includes:

Step 1: Start If You Have Never Farmed Before

Your passion determines which aspect of life you truly belong in. you need to seek more advice on what you want to do base on the available resources, passion and motive. All agricultural practices and sector are profitable, be it family consumption or profit making.

Step 2: Reserve a Spot

No matter what part of farming you are planning to venture into, space is very important. It might be your backyard space, family land, or a rented portion of land. This will be the place to cultivate or raise your animals to success without any external negative effects until you are ready for further expansion.

Step 3: Locate a Source of Funding

Finance is the backbone of all the investments that I know. This can be done through loans, family support, or personal savings. If you are cultivating a land, you will need money to purchase all of the necessary materials, and livestock production requires money to purchase the animals and nurse them to term. Not having enough funds readily available might lead to a crisis when an emergency occur that need to be tackled immediately. Don't be deceived, issues might happen during farming. That's why we need to be prepared.

Step 4: Plan Your Farm's Success

As the adage says, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Planning requires you to have a business plan, which does not necessarily have to be a professional one, depending on how big your dreams are. For a farm to become great and successful, you need to target your breakeven time.

Step 5: Plan Your Marketing Channels

In any business, marketing is one of the most important parts of their planning. Getting farm produce to final consumers has to go through some channels: from the farm to marketers, to wholesalers, to retailers, and finally, to final consumers.

You are the determinant of your success. The aspects of farming are too broad to be covered all in just one article. Likewise, expect more articles on this blog that will draw on more personal experiences from my daily activities on the farm and also from some of my partners and seniors in this field. Feel free to add more of your experiences, questions, and views in the comment section.