Table 3 Mycotoxin awareness among selected poultry farmers and feed processors
Knowledge Parameter | Response | Total (%) n = 44 | Farmers (%) n = 17 | Processors (%) n = 27 | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awareness of mycotoxins | Yes | 21 (47.73) | 52.94 | 44.44 | 0.758 |
No | 23 (52.27) | 47.06 | 55.56 | ||
Occurrence | Yes | 19 (43.18) | 52.94 | 37.04 | 0.359 |
No | 25 (56.82) | 47.06 | 62.96 | ||
Factors influencing mycotoxin contamination | Rodents/Insects/Molds | 5 (11.36) | 11.76 | 11.11 | 0.145 |
Poor harvesting/Handling | 3 (6.82) | 17.65 | 0.00 | ||
Moisture | 12 (27.27) | 17.65 | 33.33 | ||
Do not know | 24 (54.55) | 52.94 | 55.56 | ||
Dangers of mycotoxin contamination | Few eggs | 5 (11.36) | 23.53 | 3.70 | |
Ill-health | 4 (9.09) | 5.88 | 11.11 | 0.165 | |
Poor growth | 10 (22.73) | 11.76 | 29.63 | ||
Do not know | 25 (56.82) | 58.82 | 55.56 | ||
Solution to mycotoxin contamination | Drying | 19 (43.18) | 35.29 | 48.15 | 0.044 |
Mixing own feed | 3 (6.82) | 17.65 | 0.00 | ||
Sorting | 1 (2.27) | 0.00 | 3.70 | ||
Pesticide | 8 (18.18) | 5.88 | 25.93 | ||
Do not know | 13 (29.55) | 41.18 | 22.22 | ||
Awareness of mycotoxin effects to humans and animals | Yes | 7 (15.91) | 23.53 | 11.11 | 0.402 |
No | 37 (84.09) | 76.47 | 88.89 | ||
Overall knowledge score | Range | 0–6 | |||
Mean ± SD | 2.65 ± 1.92 | 2.76 ± 1.75 | 2.59 ± 2.06 | 0.7357 |