Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]

Ruminant livestock are raised across large parts of Africa where environmental conditions allow (Maps 1–4). Cattle, sheep, and goats are the most widespread, while camels are restricted to drier areas, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the arid parts of western Africa. These maps of ruminant di...

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Main Authors: Robinson, Timothy P., Wint, William, Conchedda, Giulia, Cinardi, Guiseppina, Gilbert, Marius
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/74296
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author Robinson, Timothy P.
Wint, William
Conchedda, Giulia
Cinardi, Guiseppina
Gilbert, Marius
author_browse Cinardi, Guiseppina
Conchedda, Giulia
Gilbert, Marius
Robinson, Timothy P.
Wint, William
author_facet Robinson, Timothy P.
Wint, William
Conchedda, Giulia
Cinardi, Guiseppina
Gilbert, Marius
author_sort Robinson, Timothy P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Ruminant livestock are raised across large parts of Africa where environmental conditions allow (Maps 1–4). Cattle, sheep, and goats are the most widespread, while camels are restricted to drier areas, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the arid parts of western Africa. These maps of ruminant distribution should, however, be used in conjunction with the livestock production systems map (p. 25) to better understand the systems and climate zones where ruminant livestock are found. The role of livestock varies greatly depending on the production system. The heavily forested areas and hyperarid deserts of Africa have very low densities of livestock. In arid and semiarid regions of Africa, where the potential for crop growth is limited, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels are raised in low productivity, pastoral (extensive livestock grazing) systems in which ambulatory stock can take advantage of seasonal, patchy vegetation growth. In these areas, raising livestock is the only viable form of agriculture. In the more settled humid, subhumid, and tropical highland areas, cattle and small ruminants largely live in the same areas as the human population. In these mixed crop-livestock farming systems, livestock can increase crop production by providing draft power and manure, and by enhancing labor productivity. At the same time, organic material not suited for human consumption can be converted into high-value food and nonfood products, such as traction, manure, leather, and bone.
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spelling CGSpace742962025-11-06T03:59:57Z Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development] Robinson, Timothy P. Wint, William Conchedda, Giulia Cinardi, Guiseppina Gilbert, Marius geographical information systems camels goats livestock production cattle agricultural research research agriculture small ruminants geography agricultural development livestock sheep Ruminant livestock are raised across large parts of Africa where environmental conditions allow (Maps 1–4). Cattle, sheep, and goats are the most widespread, while camels are restricted to drier areas, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the arid parts of western Africa. These maps of ruminant distribution should, however, be used in conjunction with the livestock production systems map (p. 25) to better understand the systems and climate zones where ruminant livestock are found. The role of livestock varies greatly depending on the production system. The heavily forested areas and hyperarid deserts of Africa have very low densities of livestock. In arid and semiarid regions of Africa, where the potential for crop growth is limited, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels are raised in low productivity, pastoral (extensive livestock grazing) systems in which ambulatory stock can take advantage of seasonal, patchy vegetation growth. In these areas, raising livestock is the only viable form of agriculture. In the more settled humid, subhumid, and tropical highland areas, cattle and small ruminants largely live in the same areas as the human population. In these mixed crop-livestock farming systems, livestock can increase crop production by providing draft power and manure, and by enhancing labor productivity. At the same time, organic material not suited for human consumption can be converted into high-value food and nonfood products, such as traction, manure, leather, and bone. 2014 2016-05-24T12:07:59Z 2016-05-24T12:07:59Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/74296 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153606 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Robinson, T.P., Wint, G.R.W., Conchedda, G., Cinardi, G. and Gilbert, M. 2014. Ruminant livestock. IN: Sebastian, K. (Ed.). 2014. Atlas of African agriculture, research and development: Revealing agriculture's place in Africa. Washington, DC: IFPRI: 26-27. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/74296
spellingShingle geographical information systems
camels
goats
livestock production
cattle
agricultural research
research
agriculture
small ruminants
geography
agricultural development
livestock
sheep
Robinson, Timothy P.
Wint, William
Conchedda, Giulia
Cinardi, Guiseppina
Gilbert, Marius
Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]
title Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]
title_full Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]
title_fullStr Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]
title_full_unstemmed Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]
title_short Ruminant livestock [in Atlas of African agriculture research and development]
title_sort ruminant livestock in atlas of african agriculture research and development
topic geographical information systems
camels
goats
livestock production
cattle
agricultural research
research
agriculture
small ruminants
geography
agricultural development
livestock
sheep
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/74296
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