Abstract
A brief review of indices of sheep and goat production used in the literature is given and their limitations noted. A two-year study of sheep and goat production on Maasai group ranches in Kenya is described. Results from this study are presented in the form of various indices of production: weaning and 18-month indices, a flock production index, traditional index and gross margins. The results of sensitivity analyses on the weaning and 18-month indices are presented in order to demonstrate the use of this type of analysis in identifying research and development priorities. It is concluded that characteristics of useful production indices are: an output component, an input component, clear specification of the time period, units relevant to the output component and accompanied by as full a description of the physical, economic and social environments as possible, so that a correct interpretation of results is made. Care should be used in clearly defining the purpose of the analysis and using indices appropriate to that purpose.
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