International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VII, Issue VIII, August 2022 | ISSN 2454–6194
Okunola Solomon Olufemi*, Olapade Ogunwole Folayimi, and Adesiyan Olusegun Israel
Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: The study undertook a comparison between methods of feed formulation among small-holder farmers because most poultry products in Nigeria come from this segment. Most poultry farmers were females (51.7%) because their male counterparts were into other aspects like arable farming and palm wine tapping in the study area. All (100%) had one form of education. Most respondents kept a relatively large family used as labor supplements. Age was significant at (p<0.10) and Access to facilities expansion was significant at (p<0.05) but they were positively signed while Education was also significant at (p<0.05) and had a negative sign. The cost of operation like the (Average Total Cost (A TC), Average Total Fixed Cost (TFC) and Average Total Variable Cost (TVC)) were higher for the farmer using commercially formulated feeds but the profitability parameters like the Gross Margin (GM) and profit were also higher for an average farmer using commercially formulated feeds. Although the two systems were profitable, using commercially formulated feeds gives more prospects for expansion which is needed in the poultry sub-sector of the Nigerian agriculture.
Keywords: Poultry sub- sector,. Feed costs, Self-compounded, Commercially formulated, Epidemic and Pandemic
I. INTRODUCTION
The importance of poultry to the nutritional, economic and social life of man cannot be over emphasized. The advantage of poultry over other livestock is primarily due to the short and relatively quick turn over on investments and high quality protein products (Adeyemo et al., 2010). As a result of growing human population, there is high demand for poultry products (FAO, 2002). For the poultry sub-sector to perform this important role, the birds need to be fed with adequate nutritious feed. Thus feed is a point of convergence and a critical commodity for which all livestock species compete and it is a major pillar towards ensuring economic, social and environmental goals of livestock production [Makkar, 2016]. The local farmer and small-holder reels under the exorbitant cost of feed and other materials on yearly basis. Feed costs alone account for over 70% of the total cost of livestock and poultry production (Ogunfowora, 1994; Oluyemi, 1998). Animal performance, regardless of whether it is expressed as yield (meat or milk), growth rate or disease resistance, is dependent on the quality of nutrition. However,