An empirical analysis of the relationship between climatic elements, poultry feed intake, egg
production and disease outbreaks in Ilorin Kwara State Nigeria was carried out using climatological data
and data from poultry farmers over a period of five years (2000-2004). Data on temperature, rainfall, wind
speed and relative humidity for every month in the selected years were obtained from the department of Ilorin
International Airport, and analyzed. While data on poultry egg production, poultry feed intake as well as
disease outbreak were collected through a stratified random sampling of 120 poultry farmers in llorin
metropolis. The results of the analysis using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean,
coefficient of variation, multiple regression analysis show that climatic variables (temperature, rainfall, wind
speed and relative humidity) in Ilorin contribute about 81%, 96% and 43% to the variance in poultry egg
production, feed intake and outbreak of diseases of poultry production respectively. While temperature has
an inverse relationship with poultry feed intake, high relative humidity in the study area usually encourage
outbreak of poultry diseases which invariably reduce egg production. In order to improve poultry productivity
in Ilorin, the poultry farmers need to establish appropriate housing and sanitation practices to minimize the
effect of heat and the occurrence and spread of diseases. Poultry birds must properly be confined so as to
protect them from physical hazards, rain and extremes of heat and cold in order to enhance productivity.
Farmers should select poultry breeds that are adaptable to the kind of climate operating in the study area.
There is also the need to feed the birds with sufficient ration so as to meet their nutritional requirement.