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ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online)
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39
Climate change and livestock production in Ethiopia

Temesgen Gashaw
1*
, Aleme Asresie
2
and Mulata Haylom
2

1
Department of Natural Resource Management, Adigrat University, Ethiopia
2
Department of Animal Production and Technology, Adigrat University, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author: [email protected], Phone: +251-912444900
Abstract
Agriculture which includes crop production, animal husbandry livestock, forestry, fisheries and apiculture
remains by far the most important sector of the country from which livestock constitutes the largest component
of the Ethiopian agricultural sector. The livestock population of the country that reaches more than 80 million
heads is the largest in Africa and the 10
th
in the world. The recent livestock population estimates that the country
has about 52.1 million heads of cattle, 24.2 million sheep, 22.6 million goats and 44.9 million poultry. Ethiopia
is also the continents top livestock exporter. However, livestock production in Ethiopia is heavily dependent on
climate change and variability, and Ethiopia is among those countries most vulnerable to climate risks in Africa.
So, this paper aims to give an overview on the effects of climate change on livestock production in Ethiopia.
Key words: Climate change, livestock production, Ethiopia

1. Introduction
World population is expected to grow from 5.5 billion now to about 8 billion in the year 2020. As a result of this,
the importance of livestock production can be expected to increase over the next decades (World Bank, 2002).
Extensive livestock production is practiced in arid and semi-arid areas all over the world (McCarthy, 2001).
Livestock is the sole source of livelihood for at least 20 million pastoral families and an important source of
income for at least 200 million stalk holder farmer families in Asia, Africa and Latin America (World Bank,
2002). Extensive livestock production still provides a livelihood for a large number of people in marginal areas
of sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, few advances of any sort have been made over the last three decades, and these areas
remain characterized by low productivity and extreme vulnerability to climatic fluctuations (McCarthy, 2001).
The livestock population in Ethiopia that reaches more than 80 million heads is the largest in Africa and the 10
th

in the world. It constitutes a large component of the Ethiopian agricultural sector and is well integrated with the
farming systems found in the highlands and provides the sole means of subsistence for the nomadic pastoralists
in the lowlands (FDRE, 2001). However, Ethiopia is among those countries most vulnerable to climate risks in
Africa (Stark et al., 2011) which has its root in various factors, including its geographic location and social and
economic structure (UNDP, 2011). In the same way, Zenebe et al. (2012) also reported that its low adaptive
capacity, geographical location and topography make the country highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of
climate change. In addition, dependency of its population on climate sensitive sectors for livelihood, widespread
environmental degradation and fragile ecosystems, limited national scientific, technological, financial and
institutional capacity, poor infrastructure - add-up to heighten Ethiopias vulnerability to the impacts of climate
change (UNDP, 2011). Therefore, this paper aims to give an overview on the effects of climate change on
livestock production in Ethiopia.
2. Climate change and livestock production in Ethiopia
2.1 Climatic feature
Ethiopia is located between 3
0
N - 15
0
N and 33
0
E - 48
0
E. Ethiopias climate is typically tropical in the
southeastern and northeastern lowland regions, but much cooler in the large central highland regions of the
country. Mean annual temperatures are around 1520C in high altitude regions, whilst 2530
0
C in the lowlands
(McSweeney et al., 2007). Mean annual rainfall distribution has maxima (>2000 mm) over the Southwestern
highlands and minima (<300 mm) over the Southeastern & Northeastern lowlands (FDRE, 2001). Regional
projections of climate models indicate a substantial rise in mean temperatures in Ethiopia over the 21
st
century
and an increase in rainfall variability, with a rising frequency of both extreme flooding and droughts due to
global warming (Robinson et al., 2013).
2.2 Livestock resources
Livestock production in Africa accounts for about 30% of the gross value of agricultural production, with 92%
of that coming from the production of beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, sheep and chickens (IFAD, 2009; IUCN,
2010). Livestock production is increasing throughout Africa, driven by growth of human population, living
standards (increases in the demand for livestock products as incomes rise) and urbanization (IUCN, 2010; Philip
et al., 2007).
Ethiopia is home to Africas largest livestock population, and it is the continents top livestock producer and
exporter. Although domestic demand for animal products in Ethiopia is increasing driven by the urban middle
and upper-classes export potential is the key force encouraging expansion and intensification of livestock
production (MacDonald and Simon, 2011). The livestock sector is an integral part of the farming systems in the
Advances in Life Science and Technology www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online)
Vol.22, 2014

40
country. It is the source of many social and economic values such as food, draught power, fuel, cash income,
security and investment in both the highlands and the lowlands/pastoral farming systems (FDRE, 2001). The
recent livestock population of Ethiopia estimates that the country has about 52.1 million heads of cattle, 24.2
million sheep, 22.6 million goats and 44.9 million poultry (MOA, 2013; Berihu et al., 2014).
2.3 Effects of climate change on livestock production
Livestock and climate change have a close relationship (Iqubal, 2013). The spatial distribution and availability of
pasture and water are highly dependent on the pattern and availability of rainfall (Aklilu et al., 2013). Changes in
the patterns of rainfall and ranges of temperature affect feed availability, grazing ranges, feed quality, weed, pest
and disease incidence (Coffey, 2008). Thus, changes in climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation and
the frequency and severity of extreme events like droughts directly affected livestock yields (Adams et al.,
1998). According to Coffey (2008), livestock production is doubly impacted by climate change. Similarly,
Adams et al. (1998) also reported that livestock can be affected in two ways by climate change: the quality and
amount of forage from grasslands may be affected and there may be direct effects on livestock due to higher
temperatures. The harsh effect of climate change is expected to have maximum impact on vulnerable pastoral
communities engaged in extensive livestock production systems in dry-lands (Saidu and Omedo, 2010).
According to ONRS (2011), climate change and variability in Ethiopia poses particular risks to poor
farmers and pastoralists who have an immediate daily dependence on climate sensitive livelihoods and natural
resources. In addition to the physiological effects of higher temperatures on individual animals, loss of animals
as a result of droughts and floods, or disease epidemics related to climate change may thus increase. Indirect
effects may be felt via ecosystem changes that alter the distribution of animal diseases or the supply of feed. As
reported by ANRS (2010) all pastoral regions in Ethiopia are highly prone to the adverse impacts of climate
change, while the problem is more prevalent in the North Eastern lowlands of the country. The afar region is
home to pastoral and agro-pastoral people who largely depend on livestock production for their livelihood but
due to climate variability the people exposing to the risks of several climate related disasters. Similarly, a study
by Kassaye (2010) accounted that livestock production in already marginal ecosystems in Ethiopia is severely
affected by climate change induced disasters. MacDonald and Simon (2011) also reported that farmers living in
Ethiopias semi-arid and arid lowlands who have less diversified assets and are heavily reliant on rain-fed
agriculture are, along with their livestock, particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Thus, there is no doubt about the victim of livestock sector by climate change. According to Zelalem et al.
(2009), the four major effects of climate change on livestock production in Borana pastoralists include feed
shortage, water shortage, reduced productivity, and decreased mature weight and/or longer time to reach mature
weight. Again, he reveled that heavy infestation of invasive species due to climate change has reduced the
availability of herbaceous species and hence resulted in a critical shortage of feed. On the same way, Stark et al.
(2011) reported that in some regions, invasive species linked by pastoralists to both restrictions on bush burning
and climate change are severely reducing or eliminating viable grazing areas. Trends indicative of climate
change, such as increasingly recurrent drought, floods, erratic rainfall patterns, and high temperatures are adding
significantly to these stresses. The effect of climate change on the range lands in Moyale and Dillo areas is also
remarkable. In many of the cases, the range land is changed into bare termite mount (Zelalem et al., 2009).
Climate change will have far-reaching consequences for dairy and meat production, especially in
vulnerable parts of the world where it is vital for nutrition and livelihoods (UNFCCC, 2007, WSPA, 2012).
Similarly, Adams et al. (1998) stated that climate change tended to have adverse impacts on livestock production
(e.g. low milk production) through both declining forage quality and increased ambient temperature. Climate
change, especially increases in temperature, has a direct impact by increasing heat stress in animals (Coffey,
2008). Warming is also expected to alter the feed intake, mortality, growth, reproduction, maintenance, and
production of animals (Robinson et al., 2013).
In Ethiopia, increased frequencies of extreme events such as drought and flooding which attributed to
climate change undermine the rural livelihood systems (Aklilu et al., 2013). In line with this, Zelalem et al.
(2009) reported that animal was died during severe droughts. The southern lowlands of Ethiopia are among the
countrys vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change. Recurrent droughts, flash floods, diseases, and
pests are among the prevalent disaster risks related to climate change in the area. Pastoral communities are the
major victims of these disaster risks (Aklilu et al., 2013). A study conducted in Yabelo, Borana Zone in
southern Ethiopia indicated that households have experienced a severe reduction in their assets, with an average
reduction of 80 percent in livestock holdings from their peak holdings over the past ten years mainly by climate
change (Stark et al., 2011). Additional study indicated that the decline in the number of livestock species namely
cattle, goats, sheep and donkey kept by pastoralists of Moyale and Dillo areas was remarkable in which most of
the animals were reported to have died during sever droughts, which occurred in 2005 and 2008 (Zelalem et al.,
2009). Again, the decreases in number of livestock in Arba Minch district is directly or indirectly interlinked and
related to climate change (Iqubal, 2013). Livestock health problems exacerbated by climate change such as the
high prevalence of Trypanosomiasis in the lowlands are among the challenges that affect livestock fertility
Advances in Life Science and Technology www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online)
Vol.22, 2014

41
(Habtamu, 2012). Thus, it is agreed that livestock productivity is highly affected by climate change. Livestock
productivity is affected most severely under the Ethiopia dry scenario, in which the ratio between future and
baseline productivity falls to a low value of approximately 0.70 in the moisture reliable humid lowland zone, or a
30 percent decline in productivity. Under each scenario, there is a downward trend in productivity over the 2001
to 2050 period (Robinson et al., 2013).
3. Conclusion
Ethiopias economy is highly dependent on agriculture. Livestock constitutes the largest component of the
Ethiopian agricultural sector. Ethiopia is the primary producer and export of livestock production in Africa.
However, climate change has far reaching consequences on livestock production potential of the country and it is
a huge treat for many peoples who directly depending on livestock production. Along with, it is also a treat for
the export capacity of the country as observed by many literatures. Thus, new livestock management practices
should be implemented so as to minimize its effects on livestock production of the country.
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