Sustainable Livestock/Range Management System – A way forward to Progressive Development of South Sudan.
By
Assistant Professor Mathew. Gqrdon Udo
Department of Animal Production
College of Natural Resources and Environmental studies.
University of Juba
P O Box 321/1Khartoum.
A paper presented at a Workshop on Environment and Natural Resource Management in Southern Sudan, Organized by the GOSS in collaboration with the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, National Planning for Environmental Management (NPEM) held in Juba on 31st Oct. – 2nd Nov. 2006.
Abstract:-
South Sudan is well blessed with various types of material resources including livestock which provide almost half of the population with sources of their livelihood. The paper touches on the geographical profile of the region, the main ecological zones and their relationship to livestock distribution. It emphasizes on the major livestock management system and their socio-economic importance in the livelihood of most south Sudanese communities. The paper also highlights on problems hindering, processing accurate livestock population estimate in the region. It sheds light on the distribution of range (pasture) potential in south Sudan and the impact of livestock population density on their carrying capacity. It also focusses on some major constraints facing livestock/range resource improvement in the region. The paper highlights on some previous development projects in the field of Animal Production and Health. It also puts forward some development strategies for the improvement of livestock/range resources in the region. It concluded that to attain sustainable livestock/range development in south Sudan, a balance between livestock population density and its relationship to range carrying capacity should be stricken. Traditional farmers and livestock owners have be the focal points of any development programme.
1.0 Introduction
Points for Clarification
* Sustainable livestock/range resources Management =
Use of livestock/range resources economically without destruction or exploitation of the base.
* Livestock = cattle, sheep, goats and poultry (chicken)
*.RangeLand = Natural grazing areas and their resources such as grasses, legumes and water.
* Pasture = Demarcated areas into paddocks seeded with improved grasses/legumes as animal feed.
* Forages = Cultivated grasses/legumes as animal feed.
Components of Sustainable livestock/Range Management System:-
InputsOutputs
-Ranges/Pasture-Milk
-Forages-Meat
-ConcentratesLIVESTOCK-Eggs
-Disease control-Skin/Hides
-Stability-Peace
-Water-Manure
To maintain the balance between the three components is a way forward to a progressive development.
Southern Sudan is well blessed with different types of Natural Resources including livestock which provide almost half of the population with the sources of their livelihood. Almost all of these stock thrive on the resources of the natural rangeland. Livestock constitute the biggest proportion of national wealth in southern Sudan which have never been fully developed. The intermittent warfare in the region for the last fifty years have prohibited their improvement and indirectly contributed to widespread poverty among the local communities. The presence of peace now in the region could offer an opportunity to allocating much resource to their improvement, development of feed and water resources and control of endemic and trans-boundary diseases causing pathogens/parasites. which could lead to the overall improvement of the livelihood of the local people.
2.0 The geographical profile of South Sudan:-
-South Sudan comprises of Bahr el Ghazal. Equatoria and Upper Nile regions covering an area of about 648,051km2 which is about one-fourth the total area of Sudan.
-It lies between latitudes 3o 5’ N and 12o N and longititudes 23o and 36o E.
-South Sudan is a large basin gentle shopping down northwards through which flows the river Nile from Lake Victoria in Uganda, Bahr el Ghazal and its tributaries which arises from the Nile-Congo water –shed in the west and Sobat river and its tributaries in the east, all merging to join the white Nile south of Malakal town.
-The region is bordered by:-
-Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the South.
-Kenya and Ethiopia in the East
-Central African Republic in the West. Southern Darfur, Southern Kordofan, White Nile and Southern Blue NileStates in the North.
2.1 The Ecological zones:-
South Sudan is mainly divided into three ecological zones which are also subdivieded into subtypes depending on the rainfall pattern, soil types and vegetation cover (Report of Southern Development Investigation Team 1955).
2.1.1 The Equatorial zone:-
The Equatorial zone constitutes the Greenbelt, Ironstone plateau, Central Hills and the South-Eastern Hills.
* The Greenbelt-occupy the extreme south west of south Sudan extending to approximately 1350mm Isohyets. It passes through Yei District excluding Kajokeji and ends up in the Acholi Highland in Upper Talanga.
-Rainfall pattern ranges from 1350mm to 1600mm with duration from 8 to 9 months.
-Soil t5ypes; Red lateritic soil susceptible to leaching and erosion.
-Vegetation is mainly broadleaved woodland savannah with several species of perennial and annual grasses with low nutritive values for livestock due to high lignifications.
* Ironstone Plateau and Central Hills:-These occupy the areas of western Equatoria (Tambura and Maridi counties) and western Bahr el Ghazal states. The Central Hills include Mundri county, and the greater parts of Juba and Torit areas.
-Annual rainfall ranges from 900 to 1300mm. Both Ironstone Plateau and Central Hills possess similar soil types; red audic wth high content of Iron oxide which is predominantly lateritic with low fertility due to leaching and erosion.
-The vegetation type is broadleaved woodland with several varieties of trees. In the Central Hills, the vegetation consists of poorly developed scattered perennial and annual grasses in both sub-zones whose herbaceous biomass matures very quickly and its quality especially its digestible protein content decreases very rapidly.
* The Southern Hills and Mountains:- These cover Eastern Equatoria and merge with the flood plains in the north and semi-arid parts of northern border of Kenya. The area is divided into two parts:-
1- The high altitude areas – with 1800m above sea level. This consists of Didinga Imatong and Boma mountains. The annual rainfall ranges between 1100mm in Didinga Hills to 2200mm in Imatong mountains lasting for 7 to 9 months. Soil types, deep fertile loam, vegetation covers consist of thick forest.
2-The lower slopes – around Kapoeta receives less rainfall per annum (100mm or less). Semi-arid zone with vegetation consisting of Acacia and thorn bushes and shrubs.
2.1.2 The Central Flood Plains:-
These comprise areas of southern Upper (Jonglei), Western Upper Nile, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes and parts of Central and Eastern Equatoria state. They constitute about half of south Sudan and are subdivided into four main land types with similar rainfall pattern (750mm 1000 per annum) lasting for 5 to 7 months.
* The high ground areas:- These are widespread patches of high ground areas and termite mounts which can remain unflooded during the rainseasons. Soils are sandy and permeable with better drainage on alluvial banks of rivers. The vegetation consists of thorny and open mixed woodland savannah with abundant types of perennial and annual grasses. This is the areaof human settlement and agriculture.
* The Intermediate land:- This is a rain flooded grassland which covers part of Southern Upper Nile (Jonglei) and Unity States. It lies between the high ground and the toich. The Intermediate land has a cracking alkaline clay soils which are dominated by open short natural grasses such as the elephant grasses with patches of acacia woodlands.
* The toich area:- Toich area is a common Nilotic word for the flood plains or river flooded grassland. This area with its fertile soil supports luxuriant native grasses such as the elephant grasses and the papyrus species.
2.3The Central Rainland:-
This area covers Northern Upper Nile and parts of Unity States. The soil type is a cracking black cotton clay soil. Acacia species form the dominant type of vegetation interspaced with tall annual and perennial grasses including the papyrus species along the river courses. This is supposed to be the most arable land for agriculture in southern Sudan.
3.0 Background to livestock production in South Sudan:-
Livestock activities have a very long tradition in the livelihood of most southern Sudanese communities. They constitute the biggest resources which have never been developed.
The distribution and management of livestock in south Sudan follow the pattern of agro-ecological zones. The Nilotic (Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk) and Nilo-Hamites (Murle, Toposa, Boya and Mundari) who inhabit the southern flood plains and the slopes of south-eastern Hills and mountains are the agro-pastoralist and pastoralists (Murle, Toposa, Boya) keeping large herds/flockof cattle, sheep and goats. Other tribes in both Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal inhabiting the Green belt , Ironstone Plateau and Central Hills, practicing subsistence agriculture (Bari, Lulubo, Lokoya, Latuho, Lokoro Kakua, Kuku and Jur) also possess some few heads of cattle, sheep and goats. Backyard, poultry farming is a common practice by most households all over southern Sudan (OLS/UNICEF/FAO report, 2002). The presence of tsetse flies (Glossina morsitans) the vector of Trypanosomiasis parasites which cause Nagana in large stock and sleeping sickness in human in the Greenbelt and Ironstone Plateau zones of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal have precluded livestock production in these areas (Meine Van noordwijk, 1984; Williamson and Payne, 1999). However, some reports are indicating that cattle and other small stocks is quite a common site around Yei, Mundri, Wau and Raga (Udo, 2004).
3.1 Livestock Population and Management System:-
It is quite impossible to estimate accurately the livestock population in southSudan since there has never been a recent national animal population census in the region not even in the whole country. The only available information on livestock population was that from results ofaerial photograph of both livestock and wildlife by Watson in 1977. Other major constraints related to the assessment of livestock population include seasonal migration of these animals in search of feed and water; Displacement of the communities as a result of war, frequent raiding of the animals by antagonistic tribes; cultural taboo among livestock owners against counting their animals.
-However, any livestock population figures for south Sudan are usually arrived at by estimation based on discussion with livestock owners during treatment and vaccination against some common livestock diseases such as Rindur pest, contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia and PPR.
-The OLS/UNICEF Northern sector report (2002) put the estimated livestock population for south Sudan as follows:-
Cattle 8 million, small stock 6 million, chicken 16 million. The figure put forward earlier by OLS/southern sector (1996) for the cattle was 4.5 million heads. The recent figure put forward by the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources for the livestock population was about 27 million cattle, sheep and goats and are increasing annually at the rate of 10, 21 and 22% respectively (FMAR, 2002). Based on this information, the projected livestock population after 4 years could be about 53 million heads. To get the accurate estimate for the livestock population per region/state is quite impossible for the same reasons stated above; Much work is needed by the authority to come up with those data which can be used for adequate planning for their improvement and development.
Animal / Population Estimate / Source1-Cattle
2-Small Ruminants
(Sheep and goats)
3-Chicken / 8000,000
6000,000
16,000,000 / OLS/UNICEF/NS report 2002
OLS/UNICEF/NS report2002
OLS/UNICEF/NS report 2002.
Table 1 - Livestock population Estimate in south Sudan
The main feature of livestock production system in South Sudan is transhumant i.e. seasonal migration of livestock in search for pastures and water. Herds/flock are grazed on communal ranges in the uplands during the rain season and are moved to the toiches when the water recedes in the dry season (Nilotic tribes). Settlement and agriculture are carried out on the high grounds.
The pastoralist, Nilo-Hamite tribes (Murle, Toposa, and Boya) are in continuous movements for pastures and water sources. They graze their animals on the slopes of the hills and mountains and the semi arid lands during the rain seasons and more to the rivers basins during the dry seasons. The agricultural tribes both Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal practice pure crop production and mixed farming whereby they combine crop production and livestock rearing. In this system, animals are kept throughout the year within the vicinity of the settlements. They are taken by day time by young people for grazing and are tethered at night in the kraal. After harvest the animals are allowed to graze on the crop residues.
3.2 The Socio-economic importance of livestock to south Sudanese Communities:-
Livestock are the vital source of economic and social support among the pastoralist and agro-pastoral communities of south Sudan. Livestock ownership has a major cultural significance in many societies since it features strongly in local perception of wealth and poverty.
* Livestock provide basic subsistence foodstuff such as milk, meat, and blood for home consumption.
* They supply skins and hides which can be used for other services or sold for cash.
* Small stock such as sheep, goats, and fowls are convenient items to sell for cash or exchange for other commodities in time of need.
* In time of low rainfall or drought and famine,livestock are important items for human survival since they can be bartered for food and other commodities.
* Livestock are the currency for social contracts and the cement of social cohesion such as payment of dowry in marriage or settlement of disputes among members of the community.
* In the mixed farming areas, oxen can be used as draught power for traction.
* In the pastoralistic community, it is the size of the herd/flock that matters to the owner than the quality of the animals in term of milk and meat.
* Pastoralists in southern Sudan if conditions permit, would prefer to increase the size of his herd/flock to the extent that the management becomes cumbersome without considering its impact on the grazing land and the environments.
3.3 The genetic characterization of Livestock in Southern Sudan:-
-Livestock in south Sudan could be broadly classified as non-descriptive animals since no clear scientific studies have been carried out to group them into distinct types or breeds.
-However, they are either known by the name of their geographical location (habitat) or after the tribes who own them.
-The cattle are broadly classified as the Nilotic cattle which are mainly possessed by the Nilotic tribes (Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk) who inhabit the southern flood plains.
-There are short horn zebu cattle which are known by various names such as Mongalla cattle, Mundari cattle, Kuku cattle, Toposa cattle, Murle cattle, and mountainous cattle.
-Similarly, the sheep and goats are known as Nilotic sheep, Nilotic goats, and Mountainous/dwarf sheep/goats in Equatoria region.
-There are fat tailed Toposa sheep in the semi-arid region of Eastern Equatoria. There is a kind of interbreeding between the Nilotic animals and the adjacent breeds from southern Kordofan, Blue Nile,Darfur and White Nile states during their migration to the south in search for feed resources and water. This may distort the purity of these animals as distinct breeds or types in the long run.
-Some studies have classified the Nilotic cattle to have poor genetic potential for high milk production, however, these animals are resistant to most endemic pathogenic and parasitic diseases in their habitats.
-Nilotic cattle are among the best beef breeds in the Sudan, Nilotic sheep have high reproductive rate with poor growth rate of the young’s (Muzzamil, 2002, Tilmat el al, 1982; El Mahi, 1979).
-There are many types of chicken in south Sudan; the best known ones are the normal local or Beladi and Bare Neck. Their production and reproduction potential are quite below compared to improved breeds elsewhere.
-However, these birds are resistant to the endemic diseases and parasite infestation and they are well adapted to the harsh tropical environment in their habitat.
-Much work is needed to characterize all the livestock breeds in south Sudan to enable planning efficient programme for their improvement and conservation.
4.0 The Range/Pasture Resource Potential in South Sudan:-
More than 90% of the populations in south Sudan livein rural areas practicing traditional Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries as a source of their livelihood. The land tenure system is still traditional (i.e. land and its resources is communally owed and its use is determined by membership in the kinship group) whether for cultivation or grazing livestock.