Beef Consumption Pattern among Rural Households in Igbo- Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the consumption pattern of beef among rural households in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, assess the frequency of consumption of beef among rural households in the study area, determine their monthly expenditure on beef and the constraints encountered by the respondents in the consumption of beef in the study area. One hundred and fifty rural households were randomly selected from a population of 259,431 of the four autonomous communities (Umuozzi, Umuitodo, Essodo, and Ezzodo) that make up the Local Government Area by the use of stratified random sampling technique. Data for the study were collected using a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result obtained showed that the mean age of the respondents was 43.9 years. The majority (62.7%) of the respondents were females with a mean household size of seven persons. Most of the respondents consumed boiled beef usually during festivities/ceremonies. The mean monthly expenditure on beef was ₦2,663. Constraints encountered by beef consumers include the low financial status of respondents, the high cost of beef in the market and the inadequate supply of the commodity. It was recommended among others that more abattoirs and cold rooms should be constructed in the Local Government Area. Extension and health workers should be well trained and equipped to rightfully inform the rural dwellers on the health benefits of beef consumption and ensure good production of safe beef for consumption.