Assessment of farm families acceptability of small ruminants milk for consumption in selected rural communities in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 150 rural families were selected to ascertain acceptability of small ruminants’ milk for consumption by rural dwellers in selected rural communities of Ogun State. The result of the study showed that majority of the respondent (38%) consumed milk products such as local cheese commonly referred to as ‘wara’, and this was largely consumed either fresh (38%) or fried (32%). Other milk products consumed by the rural farm families include nono (5%) and yoghurt (7%). Half (50%) of the farm families take the local milk products as the need may arise and 34% consumed the milk product at least once a month. Most (64%) of the respondents slightly favoured consumption of small ruminants’ milk. Stubbornness of goat and stupidity of sheep, small quantity of milk being produced were factors militating against consumption of milk. Age, marital status, family size, level of education and religion and had no relationship with their disposition to sheep and goats’ milk consumption in the study area. It was thus recommended that small ruminants’ milk should be intensively explored and made available in processed forms for acceptance and consumption by the rural farm families. Also, government should support the consumption and sale of small ruminants’ milk so as to alleviate poverty and reduce malnutrition among the rural farm families. Key words: Sheep and goats’ milk, acceptability, consumption, rural farm families, Ogun State.