Agro-pastoral Production Research Articles

Participatory impact assessment of ticks on cattle milk production in pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems of Borana Zone, Oromia Regional State, Southern Ethiopia

Participatory impact assessment of ticks on Borana cattle milk production was conducted from January 2010 to July 2010. The objectives of this study were to assess the status of tick infestation in relation to climate change, teats blinding and milk production and to estimate the economic losses caused as a result of the effect of ticks on dairy cattle and its implications on food security in Yabello, Moyale and Meo districts of Borana zone. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and matrix triangulation. Thus, about six villages “ Ollas ” were systematically identified and a total of 86 households were interviewed employing questionnaires comprising 6-12 pastoralists and agropastoralists per ten PAs which in sum contained 60-120 individuals who provided information pertaining to the objectives set; in which increase of ticks population at an alarming rate was perceived having several factors affecting and its real impact of blinding on teats which signal loss of milk production which in fact revealed economic loss and implicated food insecurity on vulnerable social groups, specifically children and elders >80 years old within the settings. Tick resistance to currently available acaricides was complained by communities. It was observed that acaricides were sold in open market and there was no strong control on illegal veterinary drug vendors. Communities also purchase these acaricides and misuse them which, contributed to the increase of acaricide resistance. This is a good indication for policy makers and local authorities to take strict action on illegal drug vendors.

Tooth Wear Related to Marine Foraging, Agro‐Pastoralism and the Formative Transition on the Northern Chilean Coast

ABSTRACTOcclusal surface wear scores were examined in a sample of 200 Formative period (1500 bc–ad 500) skeletons from the lower Azapa Valley in northwest Chile. Wear rate and plane (angle) were additionally evaluated using a subsample of paired first and second mandibular molars. The Formative period represents the transition from marine foraging to agro‐pastoral dependence in the region, and differences in oral pathology indicate that diet varied by site location (coast vs valley interior) but not by archaeological phase (early vs late). We predicted that occlusal wear would demonstrate similar patterns, resulting from differences in food consistency, and therefore hypothesised that in coastal groups consuming greater quantities of foraged foods, occlusal surfaces should wear faster and exhibit flat molar wear, whereas among valley interior groups consuming greater quantities of agro‐pastoral products, these should wear slower but exhibit more angled molar wear. Heavier posterior tooth wear was identified among coastal residents, but rate and angle of molar occlusal attrition did not differ significantly by location. Heavier overall wear and a steeper molar wear plane were identified during the early phase indicating that food consistency varied somewhat over the course of the Formative period. Overall, the results indicate that, although limited differences in tooth wear exist by site location, wear varied more over time likely reflecting a gradual transition from foraging to agro‐pastoral dependence in the lower Azapa Valley. Although oral health indicators point to differences in dietary investment by location, maintenance of a mixed subsistence economy likely sustained a comparative consistency of foodstuffs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Monitoring snow cover variability in an agropastoral area in the Trans Himalayan region of Nepal using MODIS data with improved cloud removal methodology

Monitoring the extent and pattern of snow cover in the dry, high altitude, Trans Himalayan region (THR) is significant to understand the local and regional impact of ongoing climate change and variability. The freely available Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow cover images, with 500 m spatial and daily temporal resolution, can provide a basis for regional snow cover mapping, monitoring and hydrological modelling. However, high cloud obscuration remains the main limitation. In this study, we propose a five successive step approach — combining data from the Terra and Aqua satellites; adjacent temporal deduction; spatial filtering based on orthogonal neighbouring pixels; spatial filtering based on a zonal snowline approach; and temporal filtering based on zonal snow cycle — to remove cloud obscuration from MODIS daily snow products. This study also examines the spatial and temporal variability of snow cover in the THR of Nepal in the last decade. Since no ground stations measuring snow data are available in the region, the performance of the proposed methodology is evaluated by comparing the original MODIS snow cover data with least cloud cover against cloud-generated MODIS snow cover data, filled by clouds of another densely cloud-covered product. The analysis indicates that the proposed five-step method is efficient in cloud reduction (with average accuracy of > 91%). The results show very high interannual and intra-seasonal variability of average snow cover, maximum snow extent and snow cover duration over the last decade. The peak snow period has been delayed by about 6.7 days per year and the main agropastoral production areas of the region were found to experience a significant decline in snow cover duration during the last decade.

Study on seroprevalence, risk factors, and economic impact of foot-and-mouth disease in Borena pastoral and agro-pastoral system, southern Ethiopia

Cross-sectional serological study and questionnaire survey were conducted in Borana pastoral and agro-pastoral area to determine seroprevalence and risk factors associated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) infection and to assess community perceptions as to importance of the disease. A multistage random sampling was carried out to select cattle for seroprevalence and households for interviews. Totally, 768 sera were collected from 111 herds. The overall individual level seroprevalence of 23.0% (n = 177) and herd level seroprevalence of 58.6% (n = 65) were recorded using 3ABC ELISA test. The variation of individual level seroprevalence in districts were statistically significant (P < 0.05) which was 29.9% in Arero, 24.0% in Yabello, and 15.7% in Teltele. From multivariate logistic regression analysis, herd size and age were seen to be significantly (P < 0.05) associated with FMD seroprevalence. The result of the questionnaire survey based on 120 respondents indicated that, the daily milk yield of cows infected with FMD during outbreaks is reduced to an average of 0.5 L for 25.5 days while cows developing heat-intolerance syndrome after acute infection gave an average 0.67 L for 3.8 months and their calving interval prolonged about 12 months. The questionnaire survey in agro-pastoral area of Borena also indicated that FMD-infected oxen remained off-plough for one season when outbreaks occur in cropping time, whereas heat-intolerant oxen were no longer used for traction. These findings of the present study indicated that FMD is a highly prevalent and economically important disease in the Borana pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems which need effective control strategy for the disease.

Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) for determination of chemical entities of natural pasture from Ethiopia

In the mixed crop-livestock farming system of Ethiopia, natural pasture production is related to seasonal rainfall distribution which is restricted to only a few months of the year. Livestock owners in this country experience periods of excess forage in the rain season where preserving it through haymaking became tradition as a strategy for the periods of scarcity, particularly the dry season of a year. Forage can also be stored as standing hay, the cheapest way of conserving forage, in a place like pastoral and agro-pastoral production system where a decline in quality can be tolerated. Mixed grass-legume pasture samples from different agro-ecology were collected and portion of the samples were analyzed conventionally to determine their chemical composition (dry matter, ash, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin) and in vitro dry matter digestibility to validate the NIRS calibration. NIRS was evaluated by the coefficient of determination in calibration (R 2 ), standard error of calibration (SEC), and standard error of cross validation (SECV). The results showed NIRS is extremely useful for predicting nutrient contents as compared to conventional chemical analysis methods which are not difficult to conduct, but they are expensive in terms of time and resources.

Climate Change and Tropical Andean Glacier Recession: Evaluating Hydrologic Changes and Livelihood Vulnerability in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Climate change is forcing dramatic glacier mass loss in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, resulting in hydrologic transformations across the Rio Santa watershed and increasing human vulnerability. This article presents results from two years of transdisciplinary collaborative research evaluating the complex relationships between coupled environmental and social change in the region. First, hydrologic results suggest there has been an average increase of 1.6 (± 1.1) percent in the specific discharge of the more glacier-covered catchments (>20 percent glacier area) as a function of changes in stable isotopes of water (δ18O and δ2H) from 2004 to 2006. Second, there is a large (mean 60 percent) component of groundwater in dry season discharge based on results from the hydrochemical basin characterization method. Third, findings from extensive key interviews and seventy-two randomly sampled household interviews within communities located in two case study watersheds demonstrate that a large majority of households perceive that glacier recession is proceeding very rapidly and that climate change–related impacts are affecting human vulnerability across multiple shifting vectors including access to water resources, agro-pastoral production, and weather variability.

The prevalence of trypanosomosis, helminthosis and tick-borne infections in agro-pastoral production system in Kenya

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess prevalence of trypanosomosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ECF and helminth infections and factors associated with them in Kajiado District, Kenya. Purposive and random selection procedures were used to identify participating pastoralists and animals from Olkilamatian and Shompole group ranches (GR). Data were gathered using questionnaires and animal screening for prevalence of infections, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Pastoralists had low level of formal education of 5.8 years and total livestock holding of 232 valued at US$11619. There was substantial breed improvement in the area. Prevalence of infections were, ECF 26.5%, anaplasmosis 61%, babesiosis 24%, trypanosomosis 4.9% and helminthosis 6.3% suggesting that these animal herds were important sources of infection to naïve and immuno-compromised animals. There is need of understanding the extensive production system and instituting appropriate management and disease control measures likely to reduce sources of infections.Key words: Agropastoralists, Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ECF, helminthosis, trypanosomosis

Estimating multiple benefits from vegetation in mediterranean ecosystems

Ecosystems of the Mediterranean region are characterized by a heterogeneous and dynamic landscape mosaic of vegetation formations that provide diverse benefits: agro pastoral products, ecosystem services, and other utilities. Valuation of these benefits in different states of the ecosystem is an important step towards conservation, decision making, and land management. Yet, studies of this kind are scarce, especially cases dealing with more than one benefit. Multiple benefits evaluation is not straightforward; it involves many difficulties and questions which have no agreed solutions, e.g. estimation, common currency, and optimal solution. In this study we present a methodology for the estimation of three benefits in different components of Mediterranean woody vegetation in Israel. Densities of geophyte wildflowers, honey flowers, and fleshy fruits as food for birds were measured within five vegetation components defined by dominant plant functional types, in four sites with different disturbance histories. Each benefit was measured in its own units. The results showed significant differences between vegetation states in values of each benefit. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the contributions of different cover components for these three benefits. Furthermore, this indicates that it is possible to estimate the level of benefits at larger scales as a first approximation, by considering only the composition of the vegetation cover. The values for the three benefits were standardized to illustrate the question of multiple benefits valuation. This method does not lead to an optimization, but can nevertheless provide a useful tool toward conservation and rational management by land managers and policy makers.

Serological survey of antibodies to Ehrlichia ruminantium in small ruminants in Tanzania

Sera from 497 sheep and 555 goats collected in a cross sectional study from different geographical locations in north-eastern Tanzania were examined for antibodies to Ehrlichia ruminantium using MAP 1-B ELISA technique. E. ruminantium antibodies were found in 68.6% (341/497) of sheep and 64.7% (359/555) of goats. Overall seroprevalence was 66.5% (700/1052). Infection rates were higher in sheep than goats (P < 0.05), in pastoral than in agro-pastoral production systems (P < 0.05) and in female sheep than males (P < 0.05). (131/143) 91.6% of the farms/flocks tested revealed sero-positive animals. E.ruminantium infections were found in all the geographical villages and districts tested. The infection rates per administrative district varied from 36.4% (Muheza) to 90% (Mkinga) in goats and from 11.9% (Muheza) to 94.6% (Mkinga) in sheep. The results shows E. ruminantium infection was prevalent and widely but unevenly distributed throughout the eight districts under study. These findings should be taken into consideration when future disease control and livestock upgrading programs are implemented.

A cross-sectional study of bovine tuberculosis in the transhumant and agro-pastoral cattle herds in the border areas of Katakwi and Moroto districts, Uganda

A study to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the transhumant and agro-pastoral cattle herds in the border areas of Katakwi and Moroto districts in Uganda was carried out from July 2006 to January 2007 using comparative intradermal tuberculin test containing bovine and avian PPDs. A total of 1470 animals, 612 (41.6%) males and 858 (58.4%) females, 883 (60%) young, 555 (37.8%) adult and 32 (2.2%) old animals were included. The study involved a cross-sectional multistage sampling technique with random selection of individual animals from a herd. The results revealed a 1.3% overall prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds in the study area, with a marked variation between sub-counties. The highest recorded prevalence was 6.0% in Kapujan, while no cases were recorded in Ongogonja, Magoro and Katakwi sub-counties. Distinctly different patterns in the avian-bovine reactions were also found in different sub-counties. A multivariate logistic regression showed more positive reactions (OR = 6.3; 95%CI (1.4-26.34) in females than males. BTB prevalence did not differ significantly between cattle maintained in pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems. The study demonstrated a relatively low prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in local zebu cattle reared under traditional husbandry systems in Uganda, suggesting low infectiousness of the disease under such mode of production. The risk associated with the consumption of raw milk among the pastoral communities and that, the pooling of milk together from different animals is a common practice, warrants more investigation into the zoonotic transmission of tuberculosis within these communities.

Impulses of agro-pastoralism in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC on the south-western coastal rim of Norway

A review of the available archaeological and palaeoecological evidence from the coastal heathlands of south-western Norway was compiled to reveal the processes of neolithisation proceeding from the Early Neolithic towards the generally accepted breakthrough in the Late Neolithic, 2500/2350 cal. BC. South-western Norway then became part of the Scandinavian, and thus the European, agricultural complex. Three phases of forest clearance are recorded — from 4000–3600 cal. BC, 2500–2200 cal. BC and 1900–1400 cal. BC. Deforestation was intentional and followed a regional pattern linked to the geology and topography of the land. In the first period (4000–2500 cal. BC), forage from broad-leaved trees was important, while cereal cultivation was scarcely recorded. Agro-Neolithic (here referring to agriculturally-related Neolithic) artefacts and eco-facts belonging to the Funnel Beaker and Battle Axe culture are rare, but pervasive. They must primarily be considered to be status indicators with a ritual function; the hunter-gatherer economy still dominated. The breakthrough in agro-pastoral production in the Late Neolithic was complex and the result of interactions between several variables, i.e. a) deforestation resulting from agriculture being practised for nearly 1500 years b) experience with small-scale agriculture through generations and c) intensified exchange systems with other South Scandinavian regions. From 2500/2350 cal. BC onwards, two distinct environmental courses are noticeable in all pollen diagrams from the study area, indicating expansion in pastoralism, either towards heath or towards grassland and permanent fields.

The effect of climate variation on agro-pastoral production in Africa.

Using national crop and livestock production records from 1961-2003 and satellite-derived data on pasture greenness from 1982-2003 we show that the productivity of crops, livestock, and pastures in Africa is predictably associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation. The causal relations of these results are partly understandable through the associations between the atmospheric fluctuations and African rainfall. The range of the explained among-year variation in crop production in Africa as a whole corresponds to the nutritional requirements for approximately 20 million people. Results suggest reduced African food production if the global climate changes toward more El Niño-like conditions, as most climate models predict. Maize production in southern Africa is most strongly affected by El Niño events. Management measures include annual changes in crop selection and storage strategies in response to El Niño Southern Oscillation-based and North Atlantic Oscillation-based predictions for the next growing season.

Political ecology and the moral dimensions of “resource conflicts”: the case of farmer–herder conflicts in the Sahel

Abstract Conflicts associated with natural resource use are common in rural areas of Africa. Political ecology's analytical and methodological foci on these conflicts is shared by other quite different schools of thought that strongly influence policies on environment and development. The influential “environmental security” and “common property management” perspectives generally conceptualize resource-related conflicts as scarcity-driven while political ecologists have made major contributions toward more multidimensional, complex views about the genesis of resource-related conflict. This paper explores two moral dimensions of resource conflict. First, it continues the tradition within political ecology of questioning popular notions of resource conflict. It does so by analyzing farmer–herder conflict in the Sahel—a type of resource-related conflict that seemingly fits the view that conflict is generated from increased competition over a dwindling pool of resources. By seriously engaging with the materiality of agropastoral production, this paper illuminates the complex relationships between political interests, moralities, and resource access that underlie these conflicts. Second, this paper considers the ethics of how we portray resource conflict. In the present policy context in Africa, overly-simplistic treatments of resource conflict by political ecologists or others may unintentionally support programs that are likely to negatively impact the human subjects of research, conservation or development.

Wessex cowboys?

Summary. Recent excavations in Wessex, and the full publication of many of them, have produced a rich variety of evidence reflecting on the dramatic economic and social changes which were taking place in the period c.1300–600 BC. The underlying trajectory is increased agro-pastoral production, the development of secondary products and the acceptance of new consumption practices. The evidence is presented and a series of scenarios are offered to explain the observed changes.

Ecological implications of Fulbe pastoralism in southwestern Nigeria

AbstractThe study used a combination of ethno‐social surveys and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to assess 651 pastoral households and their land use under agropastoral production systems in Ogun State, Nigeria. Yields of arable crops on agropastoralists' fields were generally low. Livestock productivity was similar on all parameters to levels in comparable contexts elsewhere across the West African subregion, but generally below possible potentials and on‐farm research findings. Pastoral households' activities presently influence between 221 km2 and 523 km2 of land in Ogun State. Pastoral grazing orbits extended beyond administrative boundaries, causing potential conflicts between local crop farmers and agropatoralists. Much of the land‐cover has been altered considerably around the areas of pastoral household settlements compared with the situation 20 years ago. It was concluded that a form of intervention was needed that would guarantee sustainability of the land‐use system. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

A land-use system and the challenge of sustainable ago- pastoral production in southwestern Nigeria

SUMMARY The study is focused on land use in agro-pastoral production in Ogun State. Using a combination of data from ethno-social surveys, remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS), the study has characterized the overall agro-pastoral production system, with emphasis on population, land use and herd productivity. It was found that yields of arable crops on agro pastoralists' fields were generally low due, perhaps, to the low genetic potentials of seed varieties used, poor soil conditions and poor land management practices. Livestock productivity was similar on all parameters to levels in similar contexts elsewhere across the West African subregion but generally below possible potentials and research station findings. Much of the land cover had been considerably altered around the areas of pastoral household settlements compared with the situation 20 years ago. Agro-pastoral households currently use between 221 km2 and 523 km2 of land in Ogun State. Pastoral grazing orbits extend beyond the boundaries of the State in the northeastern areas and beyond the boundaries of the country into the Republic of Benin in the northwest. These areas represent potential conflict areas between crop farmers and agro-pastoralists. There was a direct and positive relationship between population density in pastoral household settlements and the area of land disturbed. It was recommended that there was a need for deliberate land-use planning intervention by government to ensure long-term peaceful co-existence of farmers and agro-pastoral producers. It was concluded that further studies should focus on establishing a clear link between the land-use practices of agro-pastoralists and their specific effects on soil conditions, ecological succession and the overall farming systems.

The urban market of Açaí fruit ( Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and rural land use change: Ethnographic insights into the role of price and land tenure constraining agricultural choices in the Amazon estuary

This paper examines the recent development of the acai fruit economy in regional Amazonian urban markets (as a staple food) and more recently among national and international consumers (as a fashion food) and the consequences for agroforestry intensification by Caboclo communities in the Amazon estuary. The paper is based on long-term ethnographic research and field experiments; the acai fruit economy is discussed from agricultural, social, and economic perspectives; attention is given to its historical development, the structure of acai fruit production, its agents, the relationship among themselves and the urban market. Decadal price performance is presented for acai fruit and acai transportation costs and compared to major agropastoral products for the Eastern Amazon region. Dominant views about the ‘economic rationality’ of rural producers' decision-making are discussed. Acai fruit has performed as well as and in some cases surpassed most agro-pastoral products of the Northern region. Economic returns for producers reflect linkages between price signals from urban markets, harvesting decision, and land tenure condition of the producer. Urban markets for the fruit is expanding and bringing new participants to the acai fruit economy further conditioning the ability of rural producers to take advantage of external markets for forest products. Discussion of factors conditioning agricultural development and integration between urban and rural areas conclude the article.

Wildlife management, land-use and conflicts

ABSTRACTThe paper analyses the conflict between wildlife conservation and its accompanying land-use in an East African context. In the model there are two agents. First, there is an agency managing the wildlife and the habitat of the wildlife, which is referred to as parkland. On the other hand, there is the group of agro-pastoralists living in the vicinity of the wildlife habitat, whose land-use is referred to as rangelands. The parkland is used for tourism production and hunting, while the rangelands are used for agro-pastoral production. Both agents will find it beneficial to expand their land-use, so there is a land-use conflict. This is analysed in two steps. First, social optimality is studied; then we study the utilization of the wildlife and its accompanying land-use when there is no unified resource policy and the park agency follows its self-interest. The effects on the two different management schemes of changing economic conditions, such as the recommendations of the CITES convention and a programme subsidizing agro-pastoral production, are discussed.

Meat goat production and marketing.

Production opportunities, management strategies, and marketing options for meat goats in the United States are reviewed in this manuscript. The basis for any expansion must be goat production systems that are biologically and economically sustainable, meeting both producer and consumer needs. Meat goats historically have been kept for brush control. Their use to control noxious plants and in vegetation management will continue to be their primary role in the future. Meat goats are rarely the primary animal production enterprise in the United States, but they are becoming increasingly important contributors to the income of many producers. Meat goat marketing is highly unstructured in the United States, yet prices are generally higher on a per unit of weight basis than other red meat-producing species. Efforts to organize marketing have had only limited success. Over 90% of the world's goats are in developing countries. Goats are increasingly important in these countries as subsistence food producers. Production systems range from goats being a part of nomadic multispecies herds on arid desert rangelands, in agropastoral production systems, to goats being the primary animal enterprise in smallholder farming systems.

Village food co-operatives as institutions of rural uplift

Most Third World Rural Areas produce sufficient quantities of foodstuffs that could be sold in the village and urban markets. Unfortunately, well structured channels for such an undertaking are almost inexistent. Agro-pastoral and craft products are often stock-piled and are rotting in one locality while next door there is scarcity. The problem is that of organized distribution. The result is that the villages and production zones remain reservoirs of misery, poverty, low savings and investments. Food co-operatives which involve production groups in specialized zones can be guided within this context to function as gateways to rural modernization processes. High degree in socio-economic, political, religious and other developmental domains can be attained if the grass root and/or farm groups within the villages are given organizational and financial support in such a way that their meagre but regular co-operative savings are deposited in viable urban financial institutions for future investments. They would thus be inproving on quality and quantity agro-pastoral and craft products for onward sales within an ever positive bargaining power.