Technical Efficiency of Small-Scale Rabbit Production in South-West, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines technical efficiency of rabbit rearing in South-west Nigeria. Data were collected from 150 rabbit farmsteads across states in the South-West Nigeria. The Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Production Frontier Functions were used to analyse the study data. Stochastic Production Frontier Function estimates showed that labour, size of rabbit operating stock and the type of feed fed to rabbits: either commercial feeds or kitchen and other rabbit edible wastes were contributing to revenues that accrue to rabbit rearing. However, the quantity of forage fed to rabbits did not show any influence. The inefficiency estimate indicates that rabbit mortality act as a deterrent to TE in rabbit production while rabbit farmer education and experience were contributing to technical efficiency TE. The study therefore calls for researches on rabbit health and disease control vis-à-vis the local condition under which rabbit are raised and the need to educate farmers on rabbit production techniques.Key Words: Rearing, Productive, Returns to Scale, Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Production Frontier Function, Farmstea