Production and marketing of small ruminants in Zhob district, Balochistan [Pakistan]

In the present study five locations were surveyed in Zhob district of Balochistan, namely Zhob, Sherani, Qamerdin, Murgha Kebzai and Mina Bazar. A total of 75 small ruminant farmers were interviewed as per the prescribed proforma especially designed for this purpose. Besides 25 wholesaler, middleman and final seller each were also interviewed accordingly. Information on socio-economic status of respondents production patterns and marketing activities collected, were tabulated. The study revealed that. out of 75 farmers /producers 21 percent were literate while 79 percent were illiterate. Furthermore out of 75 farmers 76 percent were married and 24 percent were unmarried.Balochi, Bibrik, Harnai and Rakhshani were the major reeds of sheep raised in sample flock. Khurasani and Pahari were the two major breeds of goats.Balochi sheep 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 Zhob district. The average wool yield of Balochi, Bibrik, Harnai and Rakhshani sheep was. 2.41, 1.87, 1.73 and 1.30 kg, respectively. Average yield of hair production was 1.36 and 1.14 kg from Pahari and Khurasani goats. The mean adult weight of sheep and goats was 35 and 29 kg/animal. The male female ratio was 1:50 and 1:30 for sheep and goat. The breeding season was August to October for Sheep and July to September for goats. It was observed that the breeding age for sheep and goat was 18-24 months. The overall mortality rate was 26% and 13% in sheep and The total capital cost averaged Rs. 9.55, Rs. 410.44, Rs. 149.72, Rs. 9.43, Rs. 123.35 and Rs. 342.60 and Rs. 71.71 on misc. expenditure per animal/year on fixed cost, cost of animal, feeding cost, veterinary cost, marketing cost, shepherd cost and miscellaneous expenditure, respectively. It was observed that the farmer earned net return of Rs. 737.26/animal/year. The marketing pattern shows that a wholesaler handled 2383 animals in a year. While the middleman handled 2935 animals and final seller handled 2088 animals in a year. Wholesaler on the whole spent Rs. 79.89/animal/year. The middleman on the whole Rs. 68.37 per animal/year. The total cost incurred by final seller was Rs. 87.95-per animal/year. The wholesaler earned Rs. 129.00 (8.940) per animal/year as absolute margin. The middleman earned Rs. 100.00 (6.480) and final seller Rs. 173.00 (10.08$) as absolute margin per animal/year. Breakdown of consumer rupee indicated that producer received 27.02 percent, wholesaler got 21.600, middleman earned 9.56% and final seller earned 41.81%.