1.

Background and Rationale

Q: What prompted you to focus specifically on biosecurity and disease management in small-
scale poultry farms?

Mock Answer:
I was inspired to focus on small-scale poultry farms because they are a major source of livelihood
in rural communities, yet often lack access to veterinary services and technical training.
Infectious diseases like Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease are devastating to these farmers.
My goal is to create data-driven, low-cost strategies to help them improve flock health, reduce
mortality, and ultimately protect their income.

Follow-up:
Why not focus on commercial or large-scale poultry farms where data is easier to collect and
monitor?

2. Problem Statement

Q: How do you justify that lack of knowledge in poultry production is a major contributor to
increased mortality and disease transmission?

Mock Answer:
Studies like Anosike et al. (2020) show that many new poultry farmers join the business based on
profitability without understanding the technical requirements. This lack of awareness leads to
poor disease management and low adoption of biosecurity measures, which directly impacts
flock survival and farm income.

Follow-up:
How do you plan to measure or verify this “lack of knowledge” during your data collection
phase?

3. Objectives

Q: Your objectives include developing strategies to reduce mortality risks—can you give examples
of what these strategies might look like?

Mock Answer:
Yes, the strategies include promoting low-cost probiotics to boost poultry immunity, improving
farmer education on disease prevention, and introducing affordable biosecurity measures like
isolation of new birds and sanitation routines. These strategies are supported by the literature
and tailored to small-scale farm settings.

Follow-up:
How will you assess if these strategies are practical and accepted by the farmers?
4. Significance

Q: In what ways will your study practically benefit small-scale poultry farmers and how will you
ensure the findings reach them?

Mock Answer:
My findings will offer cost-effective, easy-to-implement solutions for disease control. I plan to
share the results with local agricultural offices and through community trainings or flyers.
Collaborating with veterinarians and agri-coops will also help translate the findings into practice.

Follow-up:
What would be your recommendation to policymakers based on your expected findings?

5. Scope and Delimitations

Q: Why did you choose to limit your study to small-scale poultry farming instead of including
other livestock?

Mock Answer:
I chose to focus on small-scale poultry farms because they are the most accessible to rural
households and have been identified as highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks due to minimal
biosecurity. Narrowing the scope ensures a more focused and detailed investigation.

Follow-up:
How might your findings still be applicable to other livestock sectors?

6. Conceptual Framework

Q: Can you explain how your input-process-output framework guides your study’s direction?

Mock Answer:
The framework begins with input, which includes issues like high mortality and lack of disease
knowledge. The process involves identifying disease causes and evaluating current practices. The
output aims to transform biosecurity and sustainability. This flow helps structure both my data
collection and interpretation toward practical solutions.

Follow-up:
Can this framework be adapted for larger farms or commercial operations?

7. Methodology

Q: Why did you choose a quantitative descriptive-analytical approach, and how will this help you
achieve your objectives?

Mock Answer:
A quantitative approach allows for measurable, objective analysis of patterns like disease
frequency, biosecurity practices, and economic losses. Descriptive stats will provide an overview,
while analytical tools like correlation analysis will help me find connections between practices
and outcomes.

Follow-up:
How will you ensure reliability and validity in your data collection instruments?

8. Relevance of Literature

Q: Which related literature had the biggest impact on shaping your research and why?

Mock Answer:
The work of Grace et al. (2024) significantly influenced my study. Their review highlighted the
prevalence of poultry disease in smallholder systems, the gap in biosecurity, and the
socioeconomic consequences. It reinforced the urgency of addressing these issues locally with
practical solutions.

Follow-up:
Did you find any contradictions in the literature? If so, how did you reconcile them in your study
design?

🎤 Q1: What prompted you to focus specifically on biosecurity and disease management in
small-scale poultry farms?

Delivery Tip: Start with confidence. Look around the panel, speak slowly, and breathe.

🗣️Answer:
"Good day. I chose to focus on biosecurity and disease management in small-scale poultry farms
because... these farms are extremely common in rural communities — especially in developing
countries — and yet they often lack proper disease prevention practices.
Pause.
Many farmers experience high poultry mortality, but they don’t always know the root cause.
Pause.
Diseases like Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease are major threats — and without proper
knowledge or biosecurity, they spread quickly.
Pause.
So my study aims to empower these farmers with practical, low-cost strategies that could
improve poultry health and economic sustainability."

🎤 Q2: How do you justify that lack of knowledge is a major contributor to increased poultry
mortality?
Delivery Tip: Use a tone that shows concern and logic.

🗣️Answer:
"Many new farmers are drawn into poultry production because they see the potential for quick
profit.
Pause.
But according to Anosike et al. (2020), they often lack the technical knowledge required to
maintain flock health.
Pause.
Without proper disease management, they may miss early signs of infection, delay treatment, or
even unknowingly spread disease through poor handling.
Pause.
This gap in knowledge... directly leads to increased mortality and financial losses."

🎤 Q3: Can you give examples of strategies to reduce mortality risks?

Delivery Tip: Be specific and show that these are doable.

🗣️Answer:
"Yes. Some examples include establishing simple hygiene protocols like setting up footbaths at
the entrance of poultry houses, regular disinfection, and separating sick birds immediately.
Pause.
Another promising strategy is the use of probiotics — which are natural and help boost
immunity.
Pause.
Training programs for farmers on recognizing early symptoms... and better record-keeping of
flock health are also part of the strategy."

🎤 Q4: How will this study benefit farmers, and how will you make sure the findings reach
them?

Delivery Tip: Sound passionate about making an impact.

🗣️Answer:
"This study is designed to offer farmers practical, low-cost solutions they can apply immediately
— especially those who cannot afford veterinary consultations.
Pause.
By collaborating with local agricultural offices and community leaders, we plan to share the
findings through community workshops, flyers in local dialects, and possibly social media
platforms.
Pause.
The goal is to make the knowledge as accessible and actionable as possible."
🎤 Q5: Why did you limit the scope to small-scale poultry farms?

Delivery Tip: Justify with logic and focus.

🗣️Answer:
"I chose to limit the scope to small-scale farms because they make up the majority of poultry
operations in rural areas — yet they’re also the most vulnerable.
Pause.
They often lack resources, infrastructure, and support systems that commercial farms have.
Pause.
Focusing on this group allows for a deeper understanding of their unique challenges... and
ensures that the recommendations are realistic and tailored to their needs."