Livestock waste management practices in Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

Livestock waste management methods were evaluated in Oyo State where different farms were visited, structured pre-tested and peer-reviewed questionnaires were administered. The results of this study revealed that the use of animal wastes as manure for farmlands or outright dumping in the bushes, garbage sites or open lands were the most common waste disposal methods practiced by commercial poultry and livestock keepers in Oyo State. Out of all the farms sampled, 45% of the farms practiced Open lands waste disposal methods, 10% practiced sun-dried and burned animal wastes disposal methods, 14% practiced flushing wastes into nearby streams and rivers as slurry, 24% used a combination of all the three methods as space or time permits, 2% turn their waste to biogas for cooking or lightening on the farm and 5% use part of the waste as feed source for ruminants or fishes on the farm. The results showed that larger percentage of the farms does not have an environmental friendly animal waste management system and the implication is widespread air, water and land pollution