Biosecurity and animal welfare in broiler farms in Mezam division, Cameroon

Abstract

Biosecurity is fundamental for disease prevention, productivity, and animal welfare in poultry production systems. In low- and middle-income countries, particularly in conflict-affected regions, farm-level biosecurity and its relationship with animal welfare practices remain insufficiently documented. This study assessed biosecurity compliance in broiler farms in Mezam division (North West, Cameroon) and examined its association with mortality rates and farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding animal welfare. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and September 2025 in 65 commercial broiler farms selected from the lists provided by the regional services in charge of livestock production. Data were collected using structured questionnaires during on-farm face to face interview and technical observations. Biosecurity measures were evaluated using a binary scoring system, and composite scores were expressed as percentages. Animal welfare KAP scores were similarly computed. Overall, 86.2% of farms had a biosecurity score above or equal to 50% and mean biosecurity score of all the surveyed farms was 76.1% (95% CI: 70.5-81.7). The least implemented biosecurity measures were the presence of wheel dips for disinfection, the practice of all-in all-out system, and the removal of carcasses at least twice daily. They were applied by only 35.4%, 35.4% and 47.7% of the farmers, respectively. The average mortality rate per farm was 1.9% by production cycle. Farmers showed a poor knowledge (median score: 38%; 95% CI: 38.1-49.1), negative attitude (median score: 60%; 95% CI: 59.0-67.2) and adequate practices (median score: 70%; 95% CI: 58.9-68.8) toward animal welfare. A moderate positive correlation was recorded between biosecurity implementation and farmers' practices (r = 0.5, p < 0.001) or knowledge (r = 0.5, p < 0.001) about animal welfare. In addition, mortality rate decreased was associated with biosecurity improvement (r = - 0.3; p = 0.020) in farms. The findings emphasize the need for integrated approaches that combine biosecurity and animal welfare education to enhance poultry production sustainability in resource-limited settings.