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Production function analysis of small-scale poultry production in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria


IM Polycarp
SI Mshelia
BH Gabdo

Abstract

Poultry production data were collected from a random sample of 62 broiler and 92 layer producers using questionnaires in Jos South Local Government Area. The results were subjected to analysis using production function and beta coefficient models. Results for layer enterprises indicated that all production inputs have direct influence on egg output except feeds which exhibited a negative trend. For broilers, all regressors except medicaments had positive coefficients implying a direct relationship with poultry meat output. Furthermore, the explanatory powers of all selected inputs were confirmed by high coefficient of determination (R2) values despite the fact that decreasing returns to scale prevail for both layer and broiler enterprises. Beta coefficient results puts feeds and day-old-chicks as the most critical inputs for both layer and broiler enterprises while housing, labour and medicament exhibited varying relative importance for the two enterprises. The study therefore recommends that farmers need not increase their production inputs, but should rather improve on the quality and cost effectiveness of feeds and day-old-chicks that they commit to poultry production. The genuine need for research and government focus towards achieving this cannot be overemphasized.


KEY WORDS: Production function; Beta coefficient; Broiler and layer enterprises; Jos South Local Government Area; Plateau State.


Global Jnl Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.10(3) 2004: 369-371

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eISSN: 2992-4464
print ISSN: 1118-0579