Costs and returns of camels, cattle and small ruminants in pastoral herds of eastern Ethiopia
1998
R.M.T. Baars (Alemaya University of Agriculture, Dire Dawa (Ethiopia))
Two questionnaire surveys were conducted to analyze the costs and returns of camels, cattle and small ruminants in pastoral herds in eastern Ethiopia. In each survey 44 Somali pastoral households having camels in 3 grazing management systems in 4 regions were randomly interviewed. Among them only three households had no cattle of small ruminants. The average number of Tropical Livestock Units (250 kg) was 4.0 per household member. Milk production was the most important revenue (66% of total revenues) followed by sale of livestock (17%) and transport (16%). The income derived from local slaughter (1%) and hides (+0%) was insignificant. High mortality rates were recorded for all livestock species. Ten percent of the milk was converted into butter. The sales price of butter was very low compared to fresh milk. About 25% of the milk was sold fresh or as butter, but nomads rarely sold milk. Sedentary and transhumant grazing management systems showed similar levels of income, whereas nomads had a 2.4-fold higher overall income. The average total gross income of the entire herd amounted to Birr 38684 per household per year. The contribution to the total gross revenue of camels and small ruminants was 60%, 24% and 16%, respectively. The calculated costs were 30% of the gross returns.
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