ANALYSIS OF THE PROFITABILITY OF SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper analyzes the profitability and constraints of small ruminant production in Kaduna State. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 320 small ruminant farming households. The study made used of primary data collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and return per naira invested (RNI) Model. The result revealed that the total cost incurred in rearing a goat was N4,125.15 while that of a sheep was N7, 631.12, the total revenue obtained from the sale of a goat was N6, 350.19 while that of a sheep was N18, 865.94. The study further revealed that goat and sheep production is profitable in the study with a Gross margin of N2, 225.04 and N11, 172.82 realized from rearing a goat and a sheep respectively. The Return per Naira Investment (RNI) was N1.54 and N2.45 for a goat and a sheep respectively. High incidence of disease, late maturing breeds, high transportation cost, unavailability of inputs and high cost of feed
were the major problem encountered by the farming households in small ruminant production in the study area. The study suggested that extension services should be provided to the small ruminant farming household by governmental agency like ADP. In addition, training should be conducted for them in the areas of disease management and animal husbandry in order to increase their income.