Emerging pastoralist practices for fulfilling market requirements under stratified cattle production systems in Kenya’s drylands
| Autor: | Oliver Wasonga, Brigitte Kaufmann, Patrick Irungu, Bulle Hallo Dabasso |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
business.industry
05 social sciences Pastoralism 0402 animal and dairy science 0507 social and economic geography Context (language use) 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences Secondary market Animal husbandry 040201 dairy & animal science Focus group Agricultural science Intermediary Production (economics) Animal Science and Zoology Livestock business 050703 geography Food Science |
| Zdroj: | Animal Production Science. 61:1224-1234 |
| ISSN: | 1836-5787 1836-0939 |
| DOI: | 10.1071/an20042 |
| Popis: | Context Stratified cattle production (SCP) systems, which involve buying lean animals from pastoral areas and fattening them in locations that have better production conditions, are re-emerging in Kenya’s drylands. Aims This study investigated how pastoralists in the drylands of Kenya endeavour to fulfil cattle marketing requirements under the SCP systems. Methods Purposefully identified cattle fattening entrepreneurs in Tana River (n = 10) and Narok (n = 12) counties were interviewed on the requirements they demand in buying animals from pastoralists. Using the information generated from the entrepreneurs, pastoralists (Tana River, n = 10; Narok, n = 12) were interviewed on how they respond to the entrepreneurs’ requirements and make sales. The information was triangulated with a focus group discussion in each county whose members were knowledgeable traders and pastoralists. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, randomly selected pastoral households (Tana River, n = 86; Narok, n = 69) were interviewed on cattle sales made through SCP systems. Key results The results showed that under the SCP systems, pastoralists in the two counties were required to sell cattle of particular qualities, comply with unpredictable supply orders, sell in secondary markets or near urban centres, use sale agents and undertake high commercial off-take rates if the demand arose. To meet these requirements, the pastoralists devised several strategies and practices, including changes in the animal husbandry practices, keeping ‘emergency’ animals in the home-based herds to comply with unpredictable demands, arrangements with market intermediaries to sell in secondary markets and building buyer–seller trust to facilitate sales through agents. In adopting these practices, pastoralists in both counties managed to sell approximately one or two animals per household through the SCP systems over a period of 12 months, which accounted for ~28% of the annual commercial cattle off-take from the households. Conclusion Pastoralists change their management practices in response to livestock marketing requirements and challenges, enhancing their integration into the market economy. Implication The information could guide stakeholders to formulate strategies for improving pastoralists’ involvement in cattle marketing through SCP systems. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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