ABSTRACT

This study examined the economics of goat marketing in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. A sample of 80 goat marketers was randomly selected from four (4) markets in four villages in the study area. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics and the budgeting technique. The results revealed that goat marketing was dominated by males (100%), with a mean age of 40.51years, educational level of 98.8% and goat marketing experience of 2.82 years on the average. Furthermore, goat marketing showed an average revenue of ₦898,838.00; gross margin of ₦158,379.00; profitability of ₦141,284.00 and a return on investment of ₦1.19 showing that goat marketing in the area was profitable. The marketers encountered problems on goat marketing, such as high transport costs, diseases and sometimes the death of the animals. It was recommended that, the marketers be educated and encouraged to organize themselves into a co-operatives, pool their resources to provide themselves with a vehicle, and veterinary services to enable them reduce production costs, reduce deaths from diseases and earn more profits.