EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF COST AND RETURNS TO COMMERCIAL TABLE EGG PRODUCTION IN LAGOS STATE

Using basic statistics and a simple gross margin analysis procedure, it is apparent that commercial table egg production in Lagos State is profitable. Under the same assumption and based on available statistics, the gross margin for a commercial table egg producer with 1000 laying birds has increased from N975,000:00 in 1998 to N1,050,000:00 in 2005, representing an increase of 7.7 percent. The demand for poultry products is expected to grow in view of increase in per capita income, increased awareness of the health implications of inadequate intake of protein in the human diet and the outbreak of avian influenza in Asia. Thus, increased production of table egg under the Presidential Initiative is sustainable and should be maintained