Abstract
The study examined the economics of pig enterprise in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Despite the economic leverage and nutritional advantages of pig, its production still remains the least when compared to other livestock sub-sector. The study specifically described the socioeconomics characteristics of pig farmers, examined the factors influencing revenue from pig production, estimated the costs and returns in pig production and examined the problems faced by pig farmers in the area. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used in the selection of 60 farmers for the study. Primary data were collected from the selected farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, net income and multiple regression models. Results showed that majority of the respondents (85%) were male, married (81.7%), literate (100%) with mean age and household size of 48 years and five persons, respectively. Majority (88.3%) of the respondents sourced their capital from personal savings and 95% of them had crossed breeds of pigs. The determinants of net income from pig production were education (−0.271), cost of feed (0.687) and cost of labour (0.329). The profitability and the viability of piggery enterprise in the study area were shown by the gross margin, net farm income and the return on investment of ₦824,395.30 ($2,269.56), N747,797.42 ($2,058.69) and 0.84 (84%), respectively. Huge capital required for the investment, inadequate extension education, high cost of feed, diseases and parasite infestation, poor farm management, high cost of veterinary services, insufficient credit facilities and subsidies, and infant mortality and cannibalism were the major constraints faced by the farmers in the piggery enterprise. The study recommends that the government and other relevant agencies should provide subsidies and make credit facilities available and accessible to pig farmers in the study area.
 Key words: pig production, enterprise, gross margin, profitability, Nigeria
Highlights
The lingering economic quagmire, coupled with an increasing population growth, low food production and continuous rising food demand in Nigeria have led to increasing cases of mal-nutritional diseases nationwide (Onah, 2015)
This implies that pig farming in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State is dominated by male
The results showed that the pig farmers were young
Summary
The lingering economic quagmire, coupled with an increasing population growth, low food production and continuous rising food demand in Nigeria have led to increasing cases of mal-nutritional diseases nationwide (Onah, 2015). Pigs represent about 4% of the total domestic livestock in Nigeria, they display a unique ability to adapt and survive in areas where they are found (Ajala et al, 2006) Some of these unique characteristics include but not limited to high survival rate, very good efficiency of feed utilization which brings better returns per units of inputs than most other livestocks, high prolificacy, having 10-15 piglets per litter and ability to farrow two times per annum (Akinyosoye, 1999). These inherent and unique characteristics have made its production more economically viable compared to other farm animals
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