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The purpose of this paper is to identify sources and quantifying distortions to agricultural incentives to produce along the small ruminant value chains in Ethiopia.

National and district level average nominal rate of protection (NRPs) were computed for a five-year period (2010–2015). The authors developed four scenarios based on combinations of the different data generation processes employed in relation to each of the key variables.

The NRPs at farm gate and retail market for both sheep and goats are negative indicating a strong deviation of producer and retailer prices from the comparable export prices over the five-year period. Policy induced distortions were separated from market inefficiencies through use of data on access costs throughout the value chain. These access costs are positive and significant in value. It is clear that market inefficiencies are also due to government policy to a certain extent.

This study focuses only on sheep and goat value chains and covers only five-year period. This certainly limits the extrapolability of the results.

This study presents the extent to which smallholder livestock keepers are discouraged through disincentives in a unique context. This is the first study done on small ruminant value chains in the developing world.

The purpose of the study was to find out the impact of the castrated and intact attribute of the male goat on its price in Pakistan.

Five major goat markets of Punjab, Pakistan, representing various cropping systems, climatic conditions and socio-economic conditions, were selected for the study. Data about the market location, traits of traded male goat (weight, age, breed, castration, etc.), buyer attributes (education level, experience of buying goats), the purpose of buying and price of 383 traded male goats were collected by using a pretested questionnaire. The hedonic regression model was used to estimate the impact of male goat attributes on its price.

Results indicated a significant price difference between castrated and intact male goats and recommended castration of male goats for a better price. Additional findings showed a significant positive impact of live weight, age, breed and the selling marketplace on the male goat prices.

By targeting and marketing male goat characteristics like castration, weight, breed and selling markets, goat producers can receive a premium price for their animals.

In livestock markets of developing countries, buyers strongly prefer castrated or intact male goats for several reasons. However, as existing literature did not document the effect of male goat's castrated and intact attribute on its price; therefore, the study is important to fill this gap.