DEPARTMENT OF ANIMALSCIENCE

As at 2020, there were approximately 769.05 million pigs worldwide, where China produced about 51.85 million metric tons (USDA, 2021). Nigeria has the second-largest population of pigs in Africa, and its accounts for about 4 %of the total meat supply in the country (Rahman et al., 2008) with men and women actively participating in its production and marketing. Pig production has also been seenasasource of protein. Their fast growth rate which is only slightly exceeded by thebest, carefully managed broilers, their proliferation which is unsurpassed by that of any other animal species except the birds, their very good efficiency of feed utilization which brings better returns per units of inputs than most animals and quality of theirmeat which is both tender and more nutritive in terms of the contents of proteinandthe B-vitamins than those of other animals (Ogunniyi and Omoteso, 2011). Dietze(2011) stated that pigs provide income for women, strengthening their role in families as well as in local communities.

Edible land snails are commonly called “Congo meat” and are one of the most populardelicacies in Nigeria. The edible portion of the snail meat is high in protein (12-16%), iron (45-50mg/kg) and low in fat (0.05-0.08%) and its protein was reported tocontainall the essential amino acids such as leucine, phnylalanine, lysine and isoleucineneeded by the body for its metabolic activities. The study on the Assessment of Production Systems of Snails in Benin Citywascarried out in five markets and data were collected through a one on one interviewguide. Fifty (50) respondents were randomly selected and interviewed fromthevarious locations. Data obtained were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics ontheproduction and management of snails and Bar-charts on the socio-economiccharacteristics of the respondents. The results showed that 32% respondents were male while 68%were females. 34%respondents were within the age group of 26-35 years. In terms of educational status, 20% had primary certificate, 14% secondary certificate, 40%tertiary certificateand26% informal. Also 30% of the respondents were traders and farmers respectively.