THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT PIGS PRODUCTION PHASES FOR FARMER'S PROFITABILITY IN CROSS RIVER, NIGERIA

The study determined the technical efficiency of different pig production phases for farmer’s profitability in Cross River, Nigeria. A research question and one hypothesis guided the study. The hypothesis was tested at p< 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted experimental design. A population of 22 piglets of Large White (Yorkshire) breed was used. The piglets were 15 to 21-days of age. The sample was 18 healthy piglets. The instrument for data collection was a template for recording the information such as cost of piglets, cost of feeds, daily feed consumed among others and a structured questionnaire. The instrument was validated by three (3) experts, one (1) from the Department of Agricultural Education, and two (2) from the Department of Animal Science, all from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Data was collected by directly recording inputs, outputs, costs, and revenue for each production phase. Weigh back technique was used to collect data on feed intake. The data was analysed using Mean, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), t-test, and Stochastic Frontier Regression statistic. Finding indicated Pigs sold in phase 2 had the highest technical efficiency ratio compared to the other phases. Also, pigs sold at phase 3 had the highest profitability when compared to others while the pig sold at production phase 1 had the least profitability. It was recommended among others that  agricultural extension agents should advice pig farmers to sell their pigs in phase 2 for higher technical efficiency ratio, and that  the Ministry of Agriculture through the agricultural extension agents should advice pig farmers to sell their pigs at the appropriate phase for highest profitability.