# Economic potential and production determinants of selected neglected and conventional livestock species in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria: A comparative case study

## TL;DR

This study compares the economic benefits of neglected livestock species like rabbit and guinea fowl with conventional ones in Nigeria, finding that neglected species offer higher profitability and support for smallholder farmers.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the profitability and adoption drivers of neglected livestock species in Nigeria, highlighting their potential for inclusive livestock transformation.

## Key findings

- Neglected livestock species show higher return on investment compared to conventional species.
- Women are disproportionately engaged in the production of neglected livestock species.
- Feed is the dominant cost affecting profitability in both conventional and neglected livestock systems.

## Abstract

•Neglected livestock species (NLS) shows greater benefits than conventional.•NLS offers potentials for improving smallholder livelihoods.•Promoting NLS aids inclusive livestock transformation agenda.

Neglected livestock species (NLS) shows greater benefits than conventional.

NLS offers potentials for improving smallholder livelihoods.

Promoting NLS aids inclusive livestock transformation agenda.

There are livestock species such as rabbit, guinea fowl, and grasscutter in Sub-Saharan Africa which are traditionally consumed but have not received as much attention and support from policy and research compared to conventional livestock species such as cattle, sheep, goat, pig and poultry. Despite the growing interest in such neglected livestock species (NLS), evidence on their integration, production, and drivers of adoption remain sparse. This comparative study investigates the production characteristics, profitability, and determinants of farmers’ choices between conventional and NLS production in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. We conducted a quantitative survey of 183 smallholder livestock producers, selected using simple random and snowball sampling procedures across Ogun and Oyo States. Data were collected through questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and cost-benefit analysis. The findings show that women were disproportionately engaged in NLS production. Intensive and semi-intensive production systems were the most prevalent, driven by land scarcity and the adaptability of NLS to confined production environments. Feed emerged as the dominant cost component across both species, significantly impacting profitability. Logistic regression analysis showed that the choice of NLS production was positively and significantly associated with mode of land acquisition, profit, and access to credit. Profitability analysis revealed that NLS systems achieved a higher return on investment than conventional systems, offering a viable pathway for enhancing income, food security, and resilience among smallholders in the study areas. Conclusively, with an appropriate policy framework, neglected livestock species could contribute to a transformative shift in Southwestern Nigeria’s livestock landscape.

Image, graphical abstract