VARYING FARM SCALING EFFICIENCY AND BIOLOGICAL ASSETS TURNOVER DRIVERSAn Empirical Study of Layer Egg Enterprises in South West Nigeria.

The Nigerian poultry sub sector still struggles with inherent challenges that have long justified its non-competitiveness, especially in attaining National self-sufficiency and foreign earnings. This study analysed the production- financial efficiency and drivers of Biological Assets Turnover-BAT of Layer farm enterprises in South West Nigeria, using survey data of 185 farm enterprises, analysed with descriptive and econometric inferential tools. Results revealed that about three years farm holders' age differences exists between successive farm scale groups, at (P≤0.1), and majorities operated medium farm enterprises, with access to quality healthcare, extension services, married, and males farm-holders. Furthermore, significant variance exists between and within farm groups at 1% significance probability. Besides, although large scaled Layer enterprises had the highest revenue average, the small scaled enterprises were however most technically and financially efficient with the highest inverse BAT of N 0.052 per bird, while medium and large scaled enterprises averaged slack rate were barely marginal, viz about; 200 birds, and 10,518 birds, but 1,081 birds, for the entire population, respectively. Additionally, age, biological assets rate, output, gender, and stock diversification determined BAT among small scaled Layer enterprises; But output, gender, cooperative membership, multidimensional poverty, primary occupation, married, and biological assets rate determined BAT among medium- large scaled Layer enterprises. Consequently, empirical findings revealed that the menaces in the Layer enterprises were more of inefficiency quagmires, especially where poultry enterprises increases farm scaling capacities, hereby unveiling the massive shortages linkable to technology adoption gaps in this sector, where traditional and hybrid production practices were inherent.