Abstract
The study ascertained the determinants of households’ preference for beef to pork in Umuahia Metropolis of Abia State, Nigeria. Using multi-stage random sampling procedure, data were collected from eighty household heads for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ordinary least square and probit regression analysis. Findings from the study showed that beef was most preferred with 63.75% of households indicated preferences for beef to pork while 36.25% of households preferred port to beef. The study also revealed age of household head, and price of meat negatively influenced meat consumption while household size and average monthly income had positive influence and the R2 was 0.675 which implied 67.5% of the variation in the meat consumption was explained by the independent variables. From the probit regressionmodel the results showed age of household heads and price of pork had a negative coefficient and were significant at 10% and 5% level of probability respectively, while household size, education level, and household income had positive coefficient and were significant at 1%, 5%, and 1% level of probability, respectively. The Chi square was 135.485 which indicated the goodness of fit for the equation and was significant at 1% level of probability. The study recommended beef marketing as a good venture in the study area; beef was most preferred meat in the study. Hence, it is recommended that unemployed persons should be encouraged to venture into beef marketing; also, there is huge potential for pork marketing in the study area.
 Key words: preferences, household, beef, pork
Highlights
Meat is one of the major products of livestock industry in Nigeria
It is concluded that beef is the most preferred meat by households in the Umuahia metropolis in southeastern Nigeria
The preference for beef to pork is positively influenced by household size, education level, and income while it is negatively influenced by the age of household heads and price of pork in the study area
Summary
Meat is one of the major products of livestock industry in Nigeria. It is generally defined as the skeletal muscle from animals, including the connective tissues and fat that are naturally associated with the muscle and may include all the edible parts of an animal (Gambo et al, 2010). Meat according to Udoh and Akintola (2003) is the most important source of animal protein in Nigeria. Especially Nigeria meat is widely consumed as a source of protein; it is either eaten cooked or processed into other forms to avoid associated spoilage (Olaoye and Onilude, 2010)
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