Design, Development, and Field Validation of a Low-Cost Gsm-Based Early Warning System for Environmental Stress and Disease Detection in Small-Scale Broiler Production Systems in Nigeria: Case study of Minna Municipal, Niger state

Abubakar Ahmadu Ndakogarba, Muhammad Abubakar, Bello Bagudu Abubakar, Musa Tauheed Ibrahim and Sa’adatu Dabai Rabiu
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Abubakar Ahmadu Ndakogarba: Fabrication and Mechanization Research Program, National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria
Muhammad Abubakar: Fabrication and Mechanization Research Program, National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria
Bello Bagudu Abubakar: Fabrication and Mechanization Research Program, National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria
Musa Tauheed Ibrahim: Department of Agricultural and Bio – Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnics Bida, Nigeria
Sa’adatu Dabai Rabiu: Fabrication and Mechanization Research Program, National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria

Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Studies, 2026, issue 2, 230-243

Abstract: High mortality rates caused by environmental stress and infectious diseases remain a major constraint to small-scale broiler production in sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents the design, development, and field validation of a low-cost Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)-based early warning system for real-time monitoring of environmental and biological indicators in poultry housing systems. The system integrates temperature, relative humidity, and a novel infrared-based faecal consistency sensor with a microcontroller and GSM module to deliver automated short message service (SMS) alerts when critical thresholds are exceeded. Field validation was conducted over an eight-week production cycle across three small-scale broiler farms in Niger State, Nigeria. System performance was evaluated in terms of sensor accuracy, communication reliability, response latency, and impact on flock health outcomes. Results indicate a GSM alert success rate of 96%, with sensor measurement errors within acceptable engineering tolerances (±0.4°C for temperature and ±1.8% for relative humidity). The system enabled early detection of environmental stress events and disease onset, contributing to a statistically significant reduction (p

Keywords: Precision livestock farming; Broiler mortality; Environmental stress; GSM monitoring; Early warning systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ddj:ejards:y:2026:i:2:p:230-243

DOI: 10.35219/jards.2026.2.16

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