PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SMALL-SCALE LIVESTOCK KEEPERS

Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, Kamal Kishore, Günther Czerkus, Hanwant Singh

The world‘s small-scale livestock keepers may be „poor“, but they have valuable resources:

• Traditional Ecological Knowledge

• Locally Adapted breeds

Domestic Animal Diversity

• Livestock breed diversity is very high in pastoralist areas

• Pastoralist groups have developed their own distinct breeds (e.g. Boran cattle, Mashona cattle, Nguni cattle, Gaddi goat, Somali and Red Maasai sheep).

• These breeds are repositories of very important genes (for disease resistance, hardiness,fertility, etc.)

The livestock of pastoralists

• walk for miles in harsh terrain to seek out scattered, spiky, fibrous plants that survive in areas where crops could never be grown.

• take droughts and hunger in their stride and act as insurance

• are social animals in the true sense – living in a herd, responding to the voice of their keepers, and defending their young against predators.

• are part and parcel of their respective eco-systems and provide a host of environmental services

• produce delicious and healthy food as well as a range of other organic products

SUCH BREEDS ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR GREEN AND EQUITABLE LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT !

Why?

„GREEN“ • Don‘t require concentrate, but

can utilize bio-diverse, natural vegetation

• Are resistant to disease –use of antibiotcs can be minimized

• Can be kept in systems that are compatible with notions of animal welfare

• No fossil fuels needed (for fertilizer, transport of feed, etc.)

EQUITABLE • Have been developed and

stewarded by PEOPLE for generations

• Reproduc e naturally • Represent cultural heritage • Require no huge investment in

infrastructure • Low risk

Example: Thar Desert in India

“The main wealth of the desert lands consists of the vast herds of camels,

cattle, and sheep which roam over its sandy wastes and thrive admirably in the dry climate…. Horned cattle are reared in such numbers that they supply the neighbouring States and Provinces; they are almost wild and in excellent

condition, but when taken out of the country, languish and get thin unless provided with grain and condiments to make up for the loss of rich grasses on

which they had been accustomed to feed.” (Rajputana Gazzetteers, 1902)

Tharparkar cattle

Stored

Ghee

Jaisalmeri sheep

Marwari goat

Jaisalmeri dromedary breed

Camel Forage Plants

36 Camel forage plants: containing phytochemicals and most of them with proven medicinal value

Jaisalmeri Ghee

Sale price is 70% higher.

The taste panel found it to be better both as raw and cooked for taste and aroma.

The laboratory analysis showed significantly higher contents of vitamin A,E and carotenoids.

Table showing taste panel results

Character Jaisalemeri ghee Commercial Ghee Appearance 7.58 2.46 Flavour 7.80 2.02 Aroma 8.00 2.02 Based on scale of 1 to 8

Table showing the fatty acid and the vitamin composition of ghee

Name of fatty acid Jaisalmeri

ghee

Commercial ghee

butyric acid C4:0 % by mass 2.1 0.2

caporic acid C6:0 % by mass 1.7 1.5

caprylic acid C8:0 % by mass 1.2 0.7

capric acid C10:0 % by mass 3.1 1.4

lauric acid C12:0 % by mass 2.7 2

tridecanoic acid C13:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

myristic acid C14:0 % by mass 9.8 9.9

myristoleic acid C14:1 % by mass 1.2 0.6

pentadecanoic acid C15:0 % by mass 1.7 1.3

palmitic acid C16:0 % by mass 30 32.6

palmitoleic acid C16:1 % by mass 1.8 1.7

heptadecanoic acid C17:0 % by mass 1.1 0.9

cis-heptacanoic acid C17:1 % by mass 0.5 0.4

CONTINUED stearic acid C18:0 % by mass 20.3 11.4

oleic acid cisC18:1 % by mass 27.2 25

linoelaidic acid C18:2 % by mass 0.6 0.3

linoleic acid cis C18:2 % by mass 2.4 5.8

omega-linolenic

acid

cis C18:3 % by mass 0.6 0.7

arachidic acid C20:0 % by mass 0.4 0.7

eicosenic acid C20:1 % by mass 0.1 0.3

arachidonic acid C20:4 % by mass 0.1 0

heneicosanoic acid C21:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

behenic acid C22:0 % by mass 0.2 0.6

tricosanoic acid C23:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

lignoceric acid C24:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

0.1

contd

vitamin A mg/Kg 19.2 18.3

vitamin D3 mg/Kg 0 0

vitamin E mg/Kg 166.9 131.3

carotenoids mg/Kg 2.7 0.2

Jaiselmeri Goat Meat

The meat sold at 25% higher prices than the goat meat imported from adjoining districts.

The taste panel conducted outside the district showed significantly higher aroma, flavour, texture and overall palatability than that from local goats.

Camel products

Lesson learnt:

• Establishment of value chains benefits not only the producers of the raw materials (camel breeders), but creates a myriad of rural job opportunities for processors, especially women.

Local breeds are a long-term business opportunity

• Consumers increasingly concerned about animal welfare and health issues

• Low-input costs

• Independence from fossil fuels

Let us ensure that livestock keepers get the opportunity to capitalize on them!

But livestock keepers can not do it alone

Livestock keepers

• Manage natural and genetic resources

• Own the resources

Green, equitable livestock development

They need supportive policies and a level playing field with industries

Livestock keepers

•Manage natural and genetic resources

•Own the resources

Public Sector

•Provide enabling environment for keepers and processors

•Pay for environmental services

•Ensure rights over resources

Green, equitable livestock development

They also need technological and marketing expertise

Livestock keepers

•Manage natural and genetic resources

•Own the resources

Public Sector

•Provide enabling environment for keepers and processors

•Pays for environmental services

Private sector

•Provide technological expertise

• help with market linkages

Green, equitable livestock development

What livestock keepers want…..

• “Livestock Keepers shall have the right to appropriate training and capacity building and equal access to relevant services enabling and supporting them to raise livestock and to better process and market their products.”

European shepherds demand: Recognition and payment of their role in biodiversity conservation, maintenance of soil health, water purification 1. Step: Quantification of their ecological

contributions 2. Step: Setting up a payment mechanism

Thanks to

Funding Partners

• Ford Foundation

• Misereor

• Fondation d‘entreprise Hermès

Collaborators:

• LIFE Network India, SAVES, LIFE-Africa

• Kamal Kishore, Hanwant Singh, Günther Czerkus