Abstract

Duck production is a growing poultry enterprise in Nigeria and mostly reared in extensive management system. The objective of the study was to examine the socio-economic and farm characteristics and prioritize the constraints to duck production in an attempt to assess factors determining indigenous duck production in Oyo State, Nigeria. Taking Oyo State chapter of Duck farmers Association of Nigeria (DAN) as a case study, a total of 100 duck farmers were randomly selected for the study. Data on enterprise characteristics and constraints to production were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and importance indices. Results of the analyses indicated that the mean age of duck farmers was 51 years, dominated by male (73.7%), married (85%), with mean educational level, household size, years of farming experience of 11, 7 and 10 years respectively. Majority (86%) of duck farmers were part time, reared duck either for family consumption (40%), income (13.3%) or both (46%). The enterprise characteristics showed that majority (97.3%) of the respondents reared Muscovy duck, purchased foundation stock (68.3%) and maintained the ratio of one drake to three duck-hens sex ratio for breeding (83%). The mean flock size was 14 with extensive management system of rearing. The findings also indicated that high mortality rate, consumption taboo, negative reaction from neighbour, theft and disease outbreak (in order of importance) were the most serious problems confronting duck farmers in the study area. These constraints, if addressed, would lead to increase in duck meat supply to meet local demand and export.

Keywords: Socio-economic; Farm characteristics; Production constraints; Oyo state