A 90-day study was conducted to determine the response of semi intensively managed West African dwarf sheep to concentrate supplement containing varying levels of neem leaf meal (NLM). Twenty (20) West African Dwarf sheep aged 5 to 6 months with an average weight of 10kg were used in a Completely Randomized Design with animals grouped into four treatments of five replicates each balanced for weight. The animals were allowed to graze on natural pastures predominantly made up of Panicum maximum in the morning with a daily supplementation of 100g concentrate diet containing varying levels of neem leaf meal at 0, 5, 10 and 15%. Blood samples were taken from the animals before the commencement of the experiment and at the end of the experiment. At the start of the experiment, faecal samples were collected from each animal to determine the faecal egg count and this was repeated once in three weeks for the 90 day experimental period. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference in the haematology indices studied with no definate pattern. The inclusion of NLM in the diets of West African Dwarf sheep significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the faecal egg counts across the treatments with a percentage reduction range of 33.38 to 88.00% for sheep on 0% and 5% NLM, respectively. This study, however, concluded that neem leaf inclusion at 5% in West African dwarf sheep’s diet had effects on the overall performance of the animals with a potential improvement in drastic reduction in faecal egg counts.

The Agricultural sector which used to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy in the 1950s, 60s and early 70s is now conceived as a risky and unprofitable venture by financial institutions and government. This is because the financial institutions prefer to give funds to other sectors where payback period is short and return rate is high and also because the agricultural sector is inadequately funded by the government due to low budgetary allocation to the Agricultural sector over the years. The study examined the impact of Agricultural Financing on Economic Performance in Nigeria within the sampled period of 1978-2017. The study specifically attempted to assess the impact of Agricultural Financing on Economic Performance in Nigeria. The study which utilizes data through secondary sources from the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin were analyzed using the Unit root test, Bound Cointegration test and error correction modelling to empirically estimate the coefficient of parameter estimates. The statistical decision of the analysis is based on 5% (0.005) level of significance. From the result, it was deduced that in the long-run, Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) is the most influential agricultural financing variable (as compared to government expenditure on agriculture and commercial bank credit to agriculture) that contributed to economic performance, as it revealed that (ACGSF) had strong positive impact on the growth rate of the Nigerian economy. The study concluded and strongly maintained that Agricultural Financing contributed poorly to the economic performance of Nigeria within the sampled period basically because of inadequate funding.

In order to investigate poultry farmers perceived constraints and unwholesome practices among commercial feed mill industries in Ibadan metropolis. Purposive sampling procedure was used for this study and a total of ninety six questionnaires were administered to the farmers out of the one hundred and sixty registered poultry farmers with Oyo State Agricultural Development Project (OSADEP) in Ibadan metropolis. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents such as age, marital status, educational level, gender, years of experience, religion were assessed using descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage, while farmer's perceptions on unwholesome practices and types of feed ingredients used and sources were measured using chi-square analytical tool. Other questions like benefits derived and constraints facing self milling in poultry industries were measured using Pearson product method of correlation (PPMC). From the findings it was revealed that majority of the farmers were facing one challenges or the otheras a result of some sharp practices by the so called feed mill industries in Ibadan ranging from poor quality of feeds sold to farmers, short changing the customers in terms of measurement, scarcity of feed ingredients, seasonal instability in agricultural grains among others. Also, (61.5%) of the farmers agreed that already spoilt feed ingredients can easily be detected since they are not usually bought in large quantities which is one the benefits farme rs derived from self milling.

Goat meat has a number of nutritional benefits compared to other meats. It is preferred by those who know it value. Studies on marketing of goat meat (chevon) is important to provide vital information on its availability, profitability and the contsraints encoutered by the marketers for effective research, pricing, planning and policy fomulation. In the study, the marketing of chevon in selected markets in Ibadan, was examined. Well-structured questionnaires were purposively administered to 60 respondents from four markets (Bodija, Akinyele, Oritamerin, Aleshinloye) in different Local Government Areas within Ibadan, using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and budgetary analysis. The results showed that 55% male respondents were chevon marketers in which 70% were married within the age range of 40-49 years. About 31.7% had no formal education while 30.0% had secondary education. In terms of religion, 46.7% were Muslims, 40.0% were Christians and 13.3% were traditional believers. The budgetary analysis revealed that the total revenue (TR) was < 3,970,030.00, total variable cost (TVC) was < 2,125,150.00 and total fixed cost (TFC) was <123,300.00 while gross profit and net profit accounted for < 3,970,030.00 and ? 1,721,580.00, respectively. Total cost incurred was < 2,248,450.00 per month. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) was calculated to be < 1.83. Among the problems facing chevon marketing in the study areas are infrastructural, credit facilities and storage facilities. It is therefore recommended that the government at all levels should provide market facilities and favorable market, regulatory framework for a more profitable chevon business.

The study was designed to investigate the involvement of the rural dwellers in livestock farming as a means of livelihood in Afijio Local Government area of Oyo State. Data were collected with the aid of well constructed questionnaire distributed to respondents selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data collected were subjected to descriptive analysis; Chi-square was used to determine the relationship between socio-economic factors and their level of involvement in livestock farming as a means of livelihood. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to examine the relationship between constraints and benefits of livestock farming to the livelihood of the respondents. The result of the study shows that majority of the respondents (59.8%) were male, Married (63.2%) with minimal of primary school education (35.9%). The analysis of the data reveals that most of the respondents in the study area are involved in livestock farming (60.7%) and mixed farming (85.5%) in most of the time. On the types of livestock, majority of them are into goat and poultry production. This study concludes that most of the respondents in the study area are already into livestock farming but at backyard small holder levels. It is therefore recommended that the rural dwellers should improved in their level of involvement in livestock farming through education and provision of necessary input by the concerned stakeholders.