Abstract:
A total of 54 livestock traders (LT) at Akinyele kraal market in southwestern Nigeria were
sampled using universe sampling technique. The LT were interviewed to examine their socioeconomic
characteristics and the rate of sales of small ruminant in the market. The number of
animal, breed, sex and sales of pregnant female of sheep and goat transported in four weeks was
evaluated.
Small ruminants were transported by road (100%) using vehicles such as trucks and open roof
trailers with different capacities. Transportation of sheep and goat to the market was done thrice
in a week with a total delivery of 37,762 goats and 1,304 sheep all through the study period.
Hundred percent of the livestock traders were males and majority (77.80%) were between 35-60
years. Goat was predominant in the market (95.68%), Red Sokoto goat was the common breed
and larger percentages (64.66%) were bucks. Majority of the traders (68.50%) confirm that they
sold pregnant goats and sheep.
The result of the study therefore showed that there is need for effective implementation of
policies on adequate ante -mortem inspection at all levels of animal exchange in the marketing
channels of goats to sustain the importance of goat in Nigeria livestock economy.
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