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

There are livestock species, such as rabbits, guinea fowl, and grasscutters in Sub-Sahara Africa, which are traditionally consumed, but have not received as much attention and support from policies and research as conventional livestock species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry. Despite the growing interest in such neglected livestock species, evidence on their integration, production, and drivers of adoption remains sparse. This comparative study investigates the production characteristics, profitability, and determinants of farmers’ choices between conventional and neglected livestock species (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 procedure 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 viable pathways for enhancing income, food security, and resilience among smallholders in the studied areas. Conclusively, with the appropriate policy framework, neglected livestock species can contribute to a transformative shift in Southwestern Nigeria’s livestock landscape.