Small Stock, Large Dividends: Sheep and Goats in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper first seeks to place sheep and goat raising and their use within the context of the current agricultural and food situation in Africa. The contribution of small ruminants to African economies--in terms of meat and meat products, milk, wool and skins, as well as their place in international trade--are also examined. Our attention is then focused on past and current patterns of ownership and use, both among herding societies, and agropastoralists and agricultural societies. Key trends in population, demand and agricultural systems are examined, with the conclusion that by and large, African nations will have little choice but to make serious efforts to further integrate livestock into their crop production systems. The implications for the demand for mutton and goat meat are also examined. A proposed type of strategy based on past project experiences and on our understanding of current systems and the influence of market forces, follows.