Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia

From biological data collected between January 1986 and December 1989, and economic data collected during 1988, 10-year projections of herd structure, production, and economic and financial returns were calculated for 13 village cattle herds at two village sites in the Gambia. The analyses indicate...

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Autores principales: Itty, P., Swallow, B.M., Rowlands, G.J., Agyemang, K., Dwinger, R.H.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1993
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29546
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author Itty, P.
Swallow, B.M.
Rowlands, G.J.
Agyemang, K.
Dwinger, R.H.
author_browse Agyemang, K.
Dwinger, R.H.
Itty, P.
Rowlands, G.J.
Swallow, B.M.
author_facet Itty, P.
Swallow, B.M.
Rowlands, G.J.
Agyemang, K.
Dwinger, R.H.
author_sort Itty, P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description From biological data collected between January 1986 and December 1989, and economic data collected during 1988, 10-year projections of herd structure, production, and economic and financial returns were calculated for 13 village cattle herds at two village sites in the Gambia. The analyses indicate that village herds in the Gambia generated attractive economic returns despite their relatively low productivity. Financial returns varied: the average rate of return was just equal to the assumed opportunity cost of capital at Gunjur (a peri-urban site), while the returns were much higher at Keneba (a more rural site). At Keneba, average lactation offtake was higher and herding costs per animal were lower. Although returns were lower at Gunjur than at Keneba, they were still fair considering the few other investment alternatives available in rural areas of the Gambia. The main economic constraints to increased cattle production were the high costs of herding and the system of herd management that separates ownership from management and herding. As long as animals are fed by someone other than their owners, and as long as hired herders are paid in terms of the milk they collect from lactating cows, incentives to improved disease control and animal nutrition will continue to be distored.
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spelling CGSpace295462023-02-15T09:53:48Z Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia Itty, P. Swallow, B.M. Rowlands, G.J. Agyemang, K. Dwinger, R.H. ndama cattle economics animal production financial analysis labour veterinary services feeds costs From biological data collected between January 1986 and December 1989, and economic data collected during 1988, 10-year projections of herd structure, production, and economic and financial returns were calculated for 13 village cattle herds at two village sites in the Gambia. The analyses indicate that village herds in the Gambia generated attractive economic returns despite their relatively low productivity. Financial returns varied: the average rate of return was just equal to the assumed opportunity cost of capital at Gunjur (a peri-urban site), while the returns were much higher at Keneba (a more rural site). At Keneba, average lactation offtake was higher and herding costs per animal were lower. Although returns were lower at Gunjur than at Keneba, they were still fair considering the few other investment alternatives available in rural areas of the Gambia. The main economic constraints to increased cattle production were the high costs of herding and the system of herd management that separates ownership from management and herding. As long as animals are fed by someone other than their owners, and as long as hired herders are paid in terms of the milk they collect from lactating cows, incentives to improved disease control and animal nutrition will continue to be distored. 1993 2013-06-11T09:23:57Z 2013-06-11T09:23:57Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29546 en Limited Access Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture;32(3): 293-307
spellingShingle ndama cattle
economics
animal production
financial analysis
labour
veterinary services
feeds
costs
Itty, P.
Swallow, B.M.
Rowlands, G.J.
Agyemang, K.
Dwinger, R.H.
Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia
title Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia
title_full Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia
title_fullStr Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia
title_full_unstemmed Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia
title_short Economics of village production of N'Dama cattle in the Gambia
title_sort economics of village production of n dama cattle in the gambia
topic ndama cattle
economics
animal production
financial analysis
labour
veterinary services
feeds
costs
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29546
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