Journal Portal
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Global Research Journals Vol 1.(1) pp.006 - 009 August 2010 Copyright ©2010 Global Research Journals |
Full Length Research Paper
Preliminary investigations into the socio-economic and production characteristics of sheep and goat farming in the Owerri zone of Imo State, Nigeria
N.J. Anyanwu1, P.C. Ohaeri1, O.O.M. Iheshiulor1 and I. Etela2
1Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri, Nigeria
2Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt Nigeria
Accepted 13th July 2010
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Abstract |
A total of one hundred and twenty (120) farmers randomly selected from three Local Government Areas (LGAs) were surveyed to examine the socio-economic and production characteristics of small ruminant (sheep and goat) production in the Owerri Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. The parameters surveyed included sex, age, educational qualification, experience. Others were feeding, breeding, health, housing and marketing practices. Out of the 120 questionnaires distributed , only 51 farmers were available for interview. The results showed that, 56.9% of the farmers were males, and 47.1% of the farmers were between the ages of 51 and 70 years. Twinning was observed to be the most common type of birth amongst the small ruminants and accounted for 70.6%, while lambing and kidding was mostly twice a year (60.8%). Also, theresults showed that, 62.7% of the farmers had 6-10 years experience in small ruminant production. Thatched roof was the dominant form of housing found within the study area. Farmers fed their animals three times daily with 78.4% fed on a mixture of browses and grasses, and 53% supplemented by household wastes. The results indicates that there is the need to develop the small ruminant production sub-sector by putting in place appropriate government policies to encourage the participation of youths and women and promote commercialization so that the farmers can increase their present holdings for improved profitability. The governments in the southeastern parts of Nigeria pay greater attention to poultry production and piggery while, smallholder sheep and goat farmers are left to their fate thus resulting to low small ruminant productivity.
Keywords: Goat, Nigeria, production, sheep, socio-economics, twinning.