Economic Losses Caused by Infectious Diseases in the Broiler Poultry Industry and Their Control Strategies in Afghanistan

Abstract (in English)

   This study aimed to assess the economic impacts of infectious diseases in the broiler poultry industry in Afghanistan and to propose strategies for their mitigation. The methodology involved a descriptive review of 50 scientific articles published from 2000 to 2024, retrieved from Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, and Iranmedex. In addition to recent studies, classic relevant sources were manually examined. Inclusion criteria comprised valid Persian and English articles focusing on the effects of diseases on meat and egg production, treatment and vaccination costs, feed conversion efficiency reduction, and disease control; in limited cases, studies on other comparable poultry species were also considered. The results indicated that infectious diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease, Infectious Bronchitis, and Coccidiosis, cause 10–30% mortality in farms, 5–40% reduction in meat and egg production, 7–20% decrease in final body weight of chickens, and 5–12% increase in production costs, with these diseases accounting for up to 20% of the total production value. Widespread outbreaks in small and traditional farms can result in more than 20% direct economic losses. Key findings also demonstrate that, in addition to direct mortality, reductions in production, increased preventive expenses, supply chain disruptions, and diminished market confidence lead to significant socio-economic consequences, highlighting the necessity of enhancing biosecurity systems, targeted vaccination, farmer education, and improved farm management. The findings further emphasize that timely diagnosis using methods such as PCR, ELISA, and routine necropsy can play a crucial role in reducing mortality and economic losses. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that implementing preventive and control strategies for poultry infectious diseases not only ensures food security and production sustainability but also directly contributes to increased profitability and reduced economic losses in Afghanistan’s poultry industry.