Livestock

Livestock are animals kept by people to obtain meat, milk, hides, hair, manure (digo), or heavy labor such as plowing and hauling. The most common types include camels, cattle, goats (male and female), horses and donkeys, and in some places chickens and turkeys are also raised.

Livestock herding is one of the largest economic activities in human society. It relies on converting grass and plants that humans cannot eat into food and goods. For this reason, livestock are typically raised on land unsuitable for cultivation, such as arid regions and mountains.

Types and uses

Cattle are usually kept for milk and meat. Goats and sheep provide meat, milk and hides, and suit small, dry plots. Camels are herded in arid areas and can withstand prolonged lack of water. Horses, donkeys and mules are used for plowing, hauling and transportation.

Herding systems

Two broad systems exist. One is pastoral herding, where livestock herders follow rains and pasture, as practiced by Somali nomads. The other is sedentary herding, where animals are kept in enclosures and fed provided food, common in large operations. Between these are mixed systems that combine cultivation and livestock.

Economy and society

In many African and Asian countries, livestock serve as a source of income and wealth storage. They also play a role in social relations: bridewealth, compensation, loans and gifts. In Somalia, live animals exported abroad were for a long time a major export commodity.

Challenges

Droughts, infectious diseases and pests affect production. Concern has also been raised about environmental impacts: excessive grazing that degrades rangeland, and methane emissions from animals contributing to atmospheric warming. Treatment, irrigation and grazing management are used to address these issues.