Cattle play an important economic and cultural role in Africa. Africa is home to 360 million cattle, with Ethiopia and Kenya having the largest populations. Cattle are raised on small farms and vast rangelands, with about one third of African rangelands used for livestock production. While cattle provide meat, they also have multiple functions for livelihoods across Africa. However, changes are needed to sustainably meet the growing demand for beef, contribute to development, and mitigate environmental and social harms. Interventions to improve genetics, health, feeding, markets, and input delivery could significantly boost cattle productivity across Africa.

1. Better lives through livestock
Cattle in sustainable, healthy food systems:
perspectives from Africa
Shirley Tarawali
International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya
Chair of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock
Thursday 24 June 2021
Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef webinar: The significance of animal protein

2. 2
Africa’s cattle
Africa is home to 360 million cattle
Ethiopia has the most with 63 million
Kenya has 21 million
ILRI/Stevie Mann

3. 3
Raising cattle
Cattle are raised
- On small farms and
- On Africa’s vast rangelands
ILRI/Susan MacMillan

4. 4
New: Rangelands Atlas
non rangeland
46%
livestock non arid
24%
livestock arid
21%
rangeland non livestock
9%
million km2
Total terrestrial
surface
148.3 million km2
https://www.rangelandsdata.org/atlas
Kenya: 90% of red meat is
from arid and semi-arid
lands
About one third of the
rangelands are in Africa
24.1 million km2 in Africa
used for ruminant livestock
production

5. 5
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-020-0694-2

6. The story of cattle in Africa
Why diversity matters
Download:
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/108945/cattle
_books.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

7. 7
Beef
Cattle raised for meat
ILRI/Susan MacMillan

8. 8
Africa beef production and trade, 2018
S.Africa, 19,381
Botswana, 21,584
Namibia, 5,772
Other, 2,045
Export
[Meat cattle (boneless beef and veal)]
S.Africa Botswana Namibia Other
Import bill for
cattle meat
$1.5 billion
Data sourced from FAOSTAT, June 2021
48,782 tonnes
$230 million

9. 9
Much more than beef
Across much of Africa livestock
including cattle raised for beef have
multiple functions
ILRI/Jake Meyers

10. Healthy, well-cared-for and productive animals [cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, swine….]
contribute to sustainable, healthier and inclusive future livelihoods worldwide

11. 11
But change is needed
Address demand (double 2018 by
2030?)
Contribute to development
Mitigate harms
0
50
100
150
200
250
E.Asia
Pacific
China
South
Asia
SSA
High
income
% growth in demand for beef
comparing 2005 to 2030
Estimates of the % growth in demand for animal source foods in different World regions, comparing 2005 and 2030.
Estimates were developed using the IMPACT model, courtesy Dolapo Enahoro, ILRI.
?Pre-COVID

12. Using technical, market and institutional
interventions to assess yield gaps
0
10
20
30
40
50
S.Asia dairy E.Africa dairy W.Africa beef W.Africa
s.ruminants
S'n Africa
small
ruminants
%
potential
gain
from
interventions
Genetics
Health
Feed
0
10
20
30
40
50
S.Asia dairy E.Africa
dairy
W.Africa
beef
W.Africa
s.ruminants
S'n Africa
small
ruminants
%
potential
gain
from
interventions
Mkt access
Input delivery
https://www.ifad.org/en/web/knowledge/-
/publication/grant-results-sheet-innovative-beef-
valuechain-development-schemes-in-southern-
africa?p_l_back_url=%2Fen%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Deswatini

13. 13
Contribute to development; mitigate harms…..
Common destinations, multiple, different pathways
…..efficient, low-carbon, sustainable livestock production that supports
rather than harms the environment…..
…..inclusive, fair, equitable livestock systems……
…..affordable, accessible, balanced, nutritious diets that include the
choice of healthy livestock-derived foods
…..healthy animals, safe food, healthy people….
…..every opportunity for every citizen and every nation to benefit fully
from multiple livelihood and economic dimensions from sustainable
livestock…..
Production
efficiency
Environmental
stewardship
Intentional
engagement and
empowerment of
women
Consumption
(wealthy)
Access,
affordability
Food safety
AMR
Endemic
diseases
Equity
New
opportunities

14. THANK YOU
ILRI/Saskia Hendricks