Production and marketing of small ruminants in district Quetta (Balochistan) [Pakistan]

The survey covered tour valleys of district Quetta. Balochistan province namely Quetta, Hanna, Kutchlak and Panjpai valleys. The selected 70 small ruminants farmers/ producers, 37 wholesaler, 34 middleman and 40 final sellers were interviewed. The literacy level reveals that out of 70 producers only 19 percent were literate. Overall average flock size was 89 animals in the study area. Balochi, Bibrik Harnai and Rakhshani were the major breeds of sheep and Khurasani and Pahari were major breeds of goats. Balochi sheep were raised mainly for wool and milk production. The Bibrik breed of sheep was raised for mutton and wool. The Harnai breed of sheep was for wool production and Rakhshani breed of sheep was raised for wool and mutton. Khurasani and Pahari breeds of goats were mainly raised for mutton and hair in district Quetta. The average wool yields of Baloch, Bibrik, Harnai and Rakhshani sheep were 2.3 kg, 1.73 kg. 1.70 kg, and 1.24 kg per animal, respectively. Average yield of hair production from Pahari and Khurasani goats was 1.72 and 1.14 kg, respectively. The mean adult weight of sheep and goats was 33.85 and 27.82 kg in the study area. The male female ratio was 1:42 in case of sheep and it was 1:25 in goats. The breeding season was August to October in case of sheep and it was July to September in goats. Breeding age for sheep and goat was I8 to 24 Months. The overall mortality rate of young sheep was 24.44%. The mortality in young sheep was much high. Average capital investment as cost of sheds per flock in district Quetta was. Rs 6,700 and Rs. 92,400 was on purchase of animals. The total capital cost averaged Rs. 1,453 her animal in the study area. An average cost of Rs. 405.85, Rs. 152.09, Rs. 111.74. Rs. 124.55. Rs. 326.97, and Rs. 75.44 on fixed cost, feed cost, veterinary charges, marketing cost, shepherd charges and miscellaneous per animal per annum respectively. In this way the gross expenditure incurred by each farmer/ producer per animal per annum was Rs. 1162.81 in district Quetta. The net returns to average farmer/producer was Rs. 229.25 / animal / year. The marketing patterns shows that the wholesaler on the whole handled 2040 animals in one year. The middleman handled 2520 animals while the final saler handled 2188 animals. Wholesaler on the whole spent Rs. 79.40 per animal per year. The middleman on the whole spent Rs. 67.13 per animal per year. The total cost incurred by the final saler comes to Its 94.74 per animal per year. The wholesaler earned Rs 155.09 per animal per year as absolute margin. The middleman earned an absolute margin of Rs 133.32 per animal per year and the final saler earned an absolute margin of Rs. 186.64 per animal per year. In percentage form it was 32.65 percent to wholesaler, 28.06 percent to middleman and 39.29 percent to final saler. Breakdown of consumerþs Rupee was calculated. The data reveals that producer received 50 percent, wholesaler got 16 percent, middleman received 14 percent and the final saler got the 20 percent of the consumerþs rupee.