Abstract
Three methods for measuring the benefits of commercial and subsistence livestock production in Africa are discussed. Firstly, biological measures of herd performance are illusstrated with material from Botswana. Secondly, the profitability of the herding operation can be measured economically, a technique which requires the ascription of cash values to in-kind produce. An improved method for imputing these values is presented. Finally, one can compare the nutritional status of human populations engaged in commercial and non-commercial livestock production. Each of these three techniques provides a limited description of the total environment which conditions farmer decision-making. As a general rule, therefore, we should favor a combination of techniques and exercise considerable skepticism in evaluating the results of any undimensional comparison.
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