Abstract:
Using
data
collected
from
professional
and
para-professional
veterinarians
and
from
a veterinary
prod-
ucts
price
survey,
the
paper
examined
the
economic
feasibility
of private
veterinary
practice
in north-
western
Nigeria.
The
results
showed
that
there
were
53,315
veterinary
livestock
units
(VLUs)
per
vet-
erinarian
and
15,328
VLUs
per
paraveterinarian.
These
ratios
suggest
an under-supply
of veterinary
personnel
in the
area
since
they
both
exceed
the
recommended
ratios
of 20,000
VLUs
per
veterinarian
and
1,000-3,000
VLUs
per
paraveterinarian.
The
results
of the
break-e
en analysis
revealed
that
pri-
vate
practice
was
potentially
feasible
since
the
available
livestock
units
and
densities
exceed
those
re-
quired
to break
even.
It was
also
found
that
economic
feasibility
could
further
be enhanced
if a private
provider
uses
(at
least
in the
first
few
years)
a motorcycle,
instead
of a four
wheel-drive
vehicle.
It is
suggested,
however,
that
privatization
of veterinary
services
should
begin
on a pilot
scale
and
that
private
providers
should
be given
absolute
right
of practice
over
specific
areas.
But
to preserve
service
quality
and
prevent
pv.ssible
exploitation
of providers,
a provider
selection
and
regulation
procedure
in
which
livestock
owners
(or
their
representatives),
the
Nigerian
Veterinary
Medical
Association
and
the
Veterinary
Council
of Nigeria
would
play
active
roles,
is advocated
