year-long survey of rural small ruminant markets in southern Nigeria shows that supplies from local sources fail to keep pace with increased demand, particularly at festival times, and the gap is filled by supplies from the northern part of the country. Subsistence oriented southern producers sell animals throughout the year mainly for various cash needs such as buying food, clothing and paying school fees. Prices are higher at festival times but on a yearly basis variations are not significant, so production technologies that contribute to year-round increased supply may be better value for small-scale subsistence oriented producers while commercial production may be geared to the peak festival time markets.