Goat Production in Oyo State: A case study of Ogbomoso town

Abstract

The study was conducted in two Local Government areas (LGAS) of Oyo State: Ogbomoso North and Ogbomoso South L.G.A. The study was carried out through the use of structured questionnaires. A total of 90 questionnaires were administered randomly in the two LGAS. Questions were asked based on background, production system, constraints to goal production e.l.cof the respondents. The data were analyzed separately using descriptive analysis. The results showed that 95.2% of household owners of goat were females while the major farms emplored male labour. West African Dwarf goat was the common breed of goat raised in the two LGAS. Majurin of the household owners of goat practised free range system of production (86.7%) while u lurge percentage of the major farms practiced intensive system of production (80%). There were no specialized housing and feeding programmes, a larger percentage of both categories fed crop residues such as cassava peels, cornstarch meal residues, and cowpea husk to the goats. The household owners of goal seldom feed forage to their goats (20%) while all the major farms fed forage to the goats. The common diseases in the area were diarrhea, pneumonia and mange. Noform of control breeding was practiced among the categories of goat keepers. There is a lack of extension service in the areas because majority of both the household owners (98%) and major farms (60%) did not have access to extension agents. The constraints to goat production in the area include accidents on the road, seasonality of seed supply, diseases, theft, lack of capital and land.