Consumption of products of livestock resources in Kazakhstan: Characteristics and influencing factors

Abstract

The deterioration of the global ecological environment has accelerated the degradation of grassland resources, which directly affects the production of livestock resources and the lives of residents in countries or regions that treat products of livestock resources as the main food source. In Kazakhstan, one of the countries facing a serious grass-livestock conflict, maintaining its residents' demand for products of livestock resources is becoming increasingly important. To explore the characteristics of consumption of products of livestock resources in Kazakhstan and the factors that influence the consumption of these products, this paper considers data on products of livestock resources in Kazakhstan and factors such as the economic development of a region, grassland resources utilization, grassland degradation, livestock husbandry, trade balance volumes of product of livestock resources, and population distribution to obtain the following conclusions and implications. First, the most consumed product of livestock resources in Kazakhstan is milk, followed by meat and eggs; beef, in particular, accounted for the highest proportion of all meat. Second, except milk, which showed a continuous increase in consumption, other products of livestock resources showed an upward trend only after 2000, which represented a turning point. Third, the total consumption of products of livestock resources increased progressively from north to south: it is lowest in the typical grasslands, then higher in the semi-desert grasslands, and is greatest in the desert grasslands. Changes in per capita consumption were consistent with the variations in the regional livestock inventories. Fourth, the conflict between consumption and supply in desert grasslands is becoming increasingly severe. To guarantee the dynamic demand of its residents for consumption of products of livestock resources, the Kazakhstan government can make better use of grassland ecosystem resources by adjusting the structure of livestock husbandry, rotating different grasses, and introducing improved grazing animal species in a bid to maintain grassland ecosystem services and improve local residents’ well-being.