Small-Holder Livestock Breeding and Fattening: A Package for Entrepreneurial Development in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to package information on small-holder livestock breeding and fattening as an entrepreneurial development in Nigeria. Livestock if properly selected, bred and fattened is a valuable source of emergency income for the resource-poor farmer. It is also a low-cost adjunct to arable and permanent crops.Livestock fattening is the intensive feeding of highly nutritious feeds to promote fast growth and fat deposition to meet desired production goal.It also refers to the preparation of livestock for marketing. Livestock can be reared economically and efficiently using wide-range of readily available feedstuff in the locality. It is also imperative to use the local stock because of their innate resistance to local diseases in addition to high adaptabilityto prevailing climate. Market abounds for fattened livestock; these are consumers, processors and institutional buyers; hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, supermarkets, hospitals etc. Fattened livestock are also in high demand during religious ceremonies and other festive occasions. This study suggests that farmers’ knowledge be harnessed through regular training on livestock improving and fattening programmes, which will maximize their profit generation and production at reduced cost.