ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the factors that affected broiler meat supply in Ikwuano L.G.A in Abia State. The objectives were to find and evaluate important factors affecting broiler meat supply, major determinants of the supply of broiler meat and the constraints encountered in the supply of broiler meat in the study area. A total of 50 respondents were selected using purposive sampling technique. The data was collected on such variables as Age, Sex, household size, production system, unit price per live weight of broiler chicken, period of supply, supply constraints, sources of supply and quantity supplied using well structured questionnaire. From the regression result, the linear function was chosen as the lead equation. Results revealed that a higher number of the respondents fall within 41-45 years age range, most of them had one form of education or the other, there were more males. Most of them had at least 6 people in the family, majority practiced deep litter production system and reared less than 50 broiler chicken with production cost of not more than N20,000 within the production period at unit prices of not more than N800. It was recommended that youths should be encouraged to invest in large scale commercial broiler meat supply, government should make farmers access to loans easier and that farmers should adopt improved production systems, rear broilers to reasonable (measured) live weight and form cooperatives.