Husbandry Practices, Biosecurity Measures of Pig Farmers and Their Awareness of Transmissible Gastroenteritis in Kwara and Oyo States, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) is a highly contagious enteric viral disease of swine with serious implications for pig health and productivity. However, data on its occurrence and impact in Nigeria remain scarce. This study assessed pig farmers’ awareness of TGE, alongside husbandry and biosecurity practices, across 201 farms in Kwara and Oyo States. Structured questionnaires and on-site observations were analyzed using descriptive statistics, agglomerative hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis (PCA), and logistic regression. Awareness was strikingly low—only 2.5% of respondents had heard of TGE, and 12.9% understood biosecurity. Essential infrastructure was lacking: 71.6% of farms had no foot dips, and 73.1% lacked staff access control. Although just 5.5% of pigs reportedly showed diarrhoea alone, 57.7% presented diarrhoea with other symptoms, and 43.7% of farmers observed signs in piglets aged 0–3 months, suggesting underreporting and possible silent circulation. Cluster analysis defined three farm profiles: Cluster 1 (13.9%) with strong compliance, Cluster 0 (73.1%) with basic hygiene but no personnel control, and Cluster 2 (12.9%) with minimal adherence. PCA reinforced these divisions, highlighting foot dips, staffaccess, and segregation as key drivers. Findings expose critical gaps in biosecurity and awareness, emphasizing the need for targeted education, veterinary outreach, and surveillance to strengthen Nigeria’s pig sector.