Livestock production challenges in the rangelands ecosystem of South Sudan Prof. A.L. Abate abateal@yahoo.

com Paper presented at the Workshop on Environmental Management Plan for Post conflict Sudan! "aha #otel! $uba! South Sudan! %ctober &' (ovember )nd! )**+ Abstract ,he rangelands of South Sudan boast a large number of animals available in significant numbers in all livelihoods -ones e.cept the tsetse fly infested south/esterly 0reen 1elt /here only small ruminants may be found. ,he communities /ho keep the livestock also gro/ crops in a closely linked agro pastoral production system. A sophisticated rhythm of seasonal mobility! perfected over generations! has sustained a large number of animals in the range! /hich by recent counts includes about 2 million cattle. ,hus! not only do the rangelands contribute to the livelihoods of the local inhabitants! they are also the basis of a livestock industry /ith huge potential for e.port trading. A number of measures are discussed for sustainable utili-ation of the range /hile protecting the environment. Among these are the need to understand! through research! the variability and diversity of the agropastoralist system and efficient management of /ater resources! gra-ing and animal populations. A number of areas re3uiring enabling policies are pointed out. 4ntroduction With an area of +5*!**.** km) and a population estimated at 6.& million in '772 89A%! '772: and most probably around the 2.* million mark! at present! South Sudan is endo/ed /ith immense mineral and agricultural /ealth. ;eliberate and consistent neglect! mismanagement! marginalisation and underdevelopment! over 6* years! by successive regimes meant that the natural resources sector of the area! e.cepting recent e.ploitation of its oil reserves! has not been open to investment and development. 9ollo/ing the signing of the <omprehensive Peace Agreement in )**6! there have been concerted efforts on the part of the 0overnment of Southern Sudan 80%SS: to revitali-e various sectors of the Southern economy and particularly its agriculture on /hich the ma=ority of the people depend for their livelihoods. Livestock production! a ma=or component of agriculture! has been sub=ected to numerous shocks including intra and inter communal raiding! looting! shortages of gra-ing due to drought and seasonal flooding all of /hich have disrupted the production patterns across the region 89A%! '772> 9orum for Livelihoods Analysis! )**6:. ,his paper /ill sho/ that the livelihoods of most of the population of South Sudan revolve around livestock raised in rangelands.

4t /ill further address some of the challenges affecting the livestock industry /ith a vie/ to developing areas and opportunities on /hich informed decisions on policy and strategy could be made as affected by livestock and rangelands interactions. (ature of rangelands "angelands are areas! /hich by reason of lo/ and erratic precipitation! rough topography! fragile soils and poor drainage! are unsuitable for cropping but are a source of forage for free ranging /ild and domestic animals as /ell as a source of forest products such as /ood and /ild foods. ,hey consist of natural grassland! bush and /oodland. "angelands provide environmental amenities such as scenery and open space and are increasingly being used for various recreational pursuits such as game vie/ing and trophy hunting. ,he vegetation in the South Sudan rangelands is savanna grassland dominated /ith acacia trees in the lo/ rainfall areas becoming lusher /ith high value perennial grass species and intermittent /oodlands in areas /ith higher rainfall. ,hese savannas surround inland floodplains! /hich provide animals /ith good dry season gra-ing or toich. ,he importance of both savannas and toich is evident in their contribution to the livelihoods of the local inhabitants and the potential significance of livestock in the economy of South Sudan. 1esides sustaining a large number of cattle! the range areas also support the cultivation of various crops such as mai-e! sorghum! millet! co/peas! greengrams etc. Livelihood -ones Eastern Flood Plains Subsistence cropping of sorghum and mai-e! and an enormous dependence on cattle keeping are the main characteristics of this -one. Ethnically! the -one is inhabited by the Murle! $ie! (uer and ;inka /ho also fish and gather /ildfoods such as forest fruits! leaves! seeds and nuts! mushrooms! honey etc. Green Belt ,his -one consists of Western and parts of <entral E3uatoria States and receives good rains that reach '2** mm per annum 89A%! '772:. 4t is inhabited by farming communities /ho gro/ a variety of crops including sorghum! mai-e! cassava! groundnuts and simsim over t/o gro/ing seasons. ,he 0reen 1elt is tsetse fly infested and so is unsuitable for livestock e.cept for small populations of sheep and goats. ,he communities 8?ak/a! Moru! @ande etc.: /ho live here are sedentary and engage in non livestock trade that e.tends internally from Aei to $uba and 1ahr el 0ha-el and internationally to <ongo! Bganda and <entral African "epublic. ,he 0reen 1elt en=oyed relatively high levels of security until recent incursions and raids by the Lords "esistance Army 8L"A: and inter ethnic conflicts around Aambio.

Hills and Mountains Eastern E3uatoria mainly represents this -one. ,he ,aposa! Latuko! Acholi and other communities /ho live here! keep livestock and are generally sedentary moving only to nearby gra-ing areas in the dry season. ,hey farm a variety of crops over t/o seasons in some areas of the -one. Ironstone Plateau ,his -one e.tends from ,erekeka north/ards up to the <ueibetC,on= and Wau areas. <ommunities 8Mundari! ;inka etc.: /ho keep primarily small ruminants inhabit the 4ronstone Plateau. ,he predominant crops gro/n in the area include sorghum! cassava! groundnuts and simsim. Nile Sobat Corridor Abundant resources along the (ile and Sobat rivers have supported communities that fish! keep cattle and farm crops! predominantly sorghum! in this -one. ,he inhabitants 8(uer! ;inka etc.: en=oy a /ide variety of foods and sufficient /ater throughout the year from its rivers and s/amps. 0ood rains often result in flooding of lo/ lying farms particularly in the s/amps of 1or! @eraf and Panyin=ar and ensure access to fish! /ild foods and ratoon crops. Western Flood Plains Livestock keeping communities /ho also gro/ sorghum! groundnuts! simsim and mai-e occupy the Western 9lood Plains of greater 1ahr el 0ha-el. ,he gathering of /ild foods and fishing are important activities and sources of food in this -one. ,here is inter regional trade for surpluses from 0ogrial! ,on=! "umbek and Wau into communities in (orth Sudan. Ma=or livestock communities Livestock is key to food security and to the social and economic /ell being of about 2*D 89EWS! )**+: of the population of South Sudan. <ately et al. 8)**6: have categorised the main livestock communities into pastoralists and agropastoralists although evidence from the livelihoods patterns above /ould describe all livestock keepers as agropastoralists. ,he relatively dry and lo/land areas of Eastern E3uatoria is inhabited by ,aposa! $ie! Murle and (yangatom agropastoralists /hile the Mundari! ;inka and (uer live in the flood plains around the (ile tributaries and in /hat is popularly kno/n as the (ile <orridor /hich is the area surrounding the (ile! Sobat! Pibor and @eraf rivers. Smaller numbers of livestock are also kept in the hills and mountain -one east of the (ile in E3uatoria 8<ately et al.! )**6:. <attle! sheep! goats and donkeys are the ma=or species in the livestock rearing areas> the introduction of camels into Eastern E3uatoria in the early si.ties /as deemed unsustainable. Milk and meat constitute &*! 5* and +6D of the diet in

&

a normal year food economy for the ;inka! (uer and ,aposa respectively 89ielding et al.! )***:. ,he ,aposa cherish blood /ith their meat and do not eat fish but similar to the other ethnic communities they also consume /ild foods and crops. Production Systems "ainfall in the livestock producing areas is variable! rarely e.ceeds 26* mm per annum 89A%! '772: and is similar to precipitation in the rangelands of ?enya 8see Abate et al.! '776:. ,he rain is sufficient to support grass species of the genera Agrostis! Panicum! Cenchrus! Echnicloa! Andropogan! Brachiaria! Sporobola! Chloris! Sorghum and H parrhenia associated /ith bro/se species of Acacia! Balonites! Indigo!era! "eucaena and Carica 8Elis! '72):. ,he nutritive value of some these species given in ,able ' sho/ them to contain high levels of essential nutrients and energy. ,able 'E <hemical composition 8g kg ' ;M: and energy value 8M$ kg ' ;M: of grass and bro/se species native to South Sudan rangelands' Species <P <9 <a P ME

Cenchrus ciliaris Panicum ma#imum Pennisetum purpureum Chloris ga ana Sorghum arundinaceum H parrhenia ru!a Acacia albida fruit Acacia tortilis leaves Balonites aeg ptiaca leaves "eucaena leucocephala leaves
'

6+.' 7F.) FF.7 2'.& +F.& 5).* '*7.* ')2.5 ''+.6 )'2.+

522.* 5&&.6 &&5.2 56+.' 6*5.6 &F+.6 )*).6 '*6.* '+5.* )**.6

&.2 5.' 5.* &.7 5.7 ).+& &2.6 5.2 6.+

'.6 '.F ).' '.7 ).7 '.6 ).) *.6 &.)

2.&) 7.&+ F.+2 2.52 2.&) 7.*5 ''.2* ''.75 ''.)* ''.6)

After Elis 8'72): indicates values not available

9or the ,oposa! Murle! $ie and (yangatom! the production system is defined by transhumant movement of animals and people from permanent! /et season homesteads in search of /ater and gra-ing. Similarly! in the flood plains of the north and /est! (uer and ;inka herders move their animals to nutritionally high dry season gra-ing or toich /hen flood /aters recede and return them to higher ground /hen the rains begin. %nly in the dry season /hen tsetse populations have fallen can cattle gra-e in the hills and mountain -one> /ith the onset of rains! tsetse numbers build up forcing herds back to the lo/lands 8<ately et al.! )**6:. ,hese movements not/ithstanding! breeding of cattle among the 5

livestock keepers is timed so that calving coincides /ith periods of pasture availability. 4t is estimated that the transhumant agropastoralist production system sustains bet/een 6 and 2 million cattle 8$ones! )**'> W9P! )**5: in the rangelands of South Sudan. 1esides providing food! manure and hides and skins! South Sudanese livestock is often sold or e.changed for grain. %ver the years! markets have emerged and thrived albeit under constrained conditions particularly of security. 4nternal and e.ternal trade in cattle have been summarised from the reports of the 9orum for Livelihoods Analysis 8)**6: and <ately et al. 8)**6: vi-E 4n the Eastern 9lood Plains militia activity in this -one limited market activity into 1entiu! Malakal and (asir. Similalry! L"A activity constrained movement /ithin the #ills and Mountains -one and restricted trading from Eastern E3uatoria to $uba and internationally /ith Bganda and ?enya. Walking animals from 1ahr el 0ha-el through Aei to northern Bganda /as a ma=or trading route as /as the /alking of ,oposa animals to (arus before trucking through Lokichokio to (airobi for slaughter. Small numbers of animals /ould also be /alked from the Sobat 1asin into Malakal and Ethiopia. 4nternally! an improved security situation in the (ile Sobat <orridor has resulted in increased movement and rural urban trade along the Leer 1entiu road and by river into Malakal. ,here is high potential for cattle rustling in the 4ronstone Plateau -one because of increasing cattle prices and increased sales into to/ns. 4n the Western 9lood Plains! there is inter regional trade for surplus animals from 0ogrial! ,on=! "umbek and Wau into communities in (orth Sudan. ,he incidence of disease among South Sudanese cattle /as high before the introduction of community based animal health service by B(4<E9 %LS in '77&. "inderpest is no/ under control although other epidemic diseases still affect South Sudan livestock. (agana is a common cattle disease in Western E3uatoria /hile small ruminants die often from liver flukes! mange and /orms. 9oot and mouth disease reduce production in adult cattle and cause calf deaths> <1PP is endemic and E<9 is emerging as an important disease in E3uatoria and $ongolei 8<ately et al.! )**6:. <hallenges to production and measures for improvement ;ue to lack of 3uantitative data the influence of 3uantity and 3uality of available herbage on animal productivity /ill not be considered here. (either /ill an analysis of production factors or the effect of individual nutrients on productivity be undertaken. %nly the environmental effects of an e.tensive gra-ing system on range resources /ill be dealt /ith instead in order to suggest those institutional measures that are conducive to sustainability of the range. Bnderstanding the agropastoralist system ,he agropastoralist system has evolved over time and is run by a comple. cultural and social organisation /hose strategies and needs are little understood by those outside the system. ,he starting point! therefore! is to understand the variability and diversity that

e.ists in the agropastoralist areas in order to find sustainable solutions for management of the system. 4n this regard! it is /ell to stress community participation in the planning and implementation of common property programmes and in ensuring ade3uate preparedness and response in the face of calamities such as drought or flooding. 4n (amibia! Mufune 8)**5: sho/ed that a community o/ned and driven livestock pro=ect contributed to poverty reduction in rural areas because the community felt empo/ered and made decisions that benefited members. Water resources and their management "egular and ade3uate supply of /ater to livestock is essential for their e.istence and sustenance of productive functions. Available evidence indicates that /ater availability is a problem in the lo/lands of Eastern E3uatoria particularly in the dry season. 4n the flood plains! seasonal movement to toich ensures ade3uate /ater supply for Mundari! ;inka and (uer herds and flocks. 1e as it may! it is still desirable that a policy on development of /ater points be looked into as e.periences in ?enya 8Abate et al.! '776: and (amibia 8Abate! )**5: have sho/n lo/ered animal outputs from the range /hen /ater supply points are absent! fe/ or far apart. Limited /ater resources al/ays lead to high gra-ing pressures around permanent /ater points resulting in deterioration of the range. 4t is! therefore! important to consider the building of earth dams! construction of /ells! deepening of /ater catchment areas and sinking of boreholes to facilitate accessibility to /ater. Such a strategy /ould ensure controlled gra-ing of feed resources! enable more areas to be gra-ed! allo/ conservation of dry season gra-ing and reduce feed re3uirements for trekking 8Abate et al.! '776:. ,o ensure continuity of their useful e.istence and enhancement of their social acceptability! the management of the /ater resources need to be vested in the communities. Multiple species gra-ing 4t is accepted that the best /ay of utili-ing range resources efficiently is in keeping a diverse herd of animals. ,his is presently the practice in the South Sudanese rangelands and although the proportions of the different livestock species have not been 3uantified! an appropriate balance need to be promoted thorough the e.tension service. <omparative studies on feeding behaviour of ruminants and camels have sho/n them to be complementary rather than competitive. Sch/art- 8'72F:! /orking in northern ?enya! reported that mi.ed species herds increase food production! minimise risks in pastoral use systems and are less detrimental to range condition and productivity than animal mono cultures. ,hus! /ith a multiple species gra-ing system! the South Sudanese range /ould support more livestock numbers than is currently the case /ithout damaging the environment.

#igh stock numbers lead to environmental degradation

,he South Sudanese range environment can only be sustained if stocking rates are matched to the carrying capacity of the rangelands. As has been sho/n else/here in sub Saharan Africa 84L<A! '72+C2F: areas /ith high livestock densities are al/ays overgra-ed of palatable grasses and shrubs leaving behind less palatable species that become prominent under drought and can barely meet the maintenance and reproduction re3uirements of livestock. ,hus! it is instructive for livestock keepers to consistently cull and sell unproductive animals such as infertile females and old castrated males using the /ell established system of livestock auctions in order to ensure that the range holds manageable numbers of animals. ,he return to normalcy of ma=or to/ns in South Sudan could provide internal markets for livestock producers 8<ately et al.! )**6:. And! as indicated in earlier paragraphs! there are already livestock trade opportunities /ith Bganda! ?enya! the ;emocratic "epublic of the <ongo and (orth Sudan! /hich need to be formalised through investment in infrastructure! trade agreements and enabling policies. 4mprovements to the feed resource base 1ecause of erratic rainfalls! shortages of available pasture are fre3uent and a ma=or constraint to livestock production in the southern Sudanese lo/lands. An afforestation programme involving local people should therefore be considered. ,he planting of high fodder yielding indigenous trees and shrubs can increase the dry matter output of the range and improve the vegetation offtake from it by livestock. ,he agropastoralists in collaboration /ith forest and range specialists need to identify promising plants for inclusion in gra-ing areas. 4t is relevant here to report the /ork of ?assilly and Abate 8)**):! /hich sho/ed that Euphorbia spp. a planted genus! /as the most preferred in the diet selected by camels in the 1aringo district of ?enya. 4n the long term! shrubs and trees are a least cost alternative. Moreover! according to ?ayongo Male 8'72+:! herbs! d/arf shrubs! tree leaves and litter constitute the ma=or portion of cattle diets in the dry season. Leguminous trees are! particularly! useful because they add to soil fertility. "othauge et al. 8)**&: observed preference by cattle for grasses gro/ing under leguminous trees because of soil enrichment caused by the tree that eventually improved the nutritive value of the sub canopy grasses. 4ndeed forests and forest products! many of /hich are used by the agropastoralist! should be considered in the decision making processes relating to South Sudan resources management. 0ra-ing management ,he range environment risks being destroyed unless gra-ing is managed efficiently. As /ith the /ater points! the different livestock communities need to be entrusted /ith managing this important resource. ,hey /ould be re3uired to define time and areas to be gra-ed throughout the year! monitor range condition and agree on de stocking through sales. ,hese measures should be additional to the traditional methods of deferred gra-ing and conservation. ,he success of a community management strategy /ould re3uire

confidence building among the different communities so as to stamp out cattle raiding for restocking purposes and inter ethnic conflicts! /hich! currently are 3uite fre3uent! and affect access to gra-ing areas. 0overnment /ould then be re3uired to compliment community efforts by investing in resource mapping and early /arning systems /hich kno/ledge could be used in designing livestock movements for efficient and sustainable utili-ation of the range. ,he Livestock Early Warning System 8LEWS: is already being used to monitor livestock and foliage conditions in ?enya! Somalia and Ethiopia 89EWS! )**+: ;isease control ,he disease environment is considered here in the conte.t of increasing productivity from the range so as to make investing in its sustainability /orth/hile. Again the use of indigenous kno/ledge to control disease is to be encouraged. %ther/ise! strategic mass vaccinations against common diseases and use of anthelmintics /ould greatly increase survival rates. 1enefits from vaccinations /ill be enormous vie/ed against the almost daily reporting of rinderpest occurrence by community animal health /orkers in '77& 8see <ately et al.! )**6:. 4ndeed! persistent large scale use of rinderpest vaccine has made cattle production profitable in many parts of sub Saharan Africa. "outine vaccinations and de/orming should be coupled /ith periodical cost effective herd health programmes for early detection and treatment of disease. "ole of research Problem solving and multisector research that encourages from belo/ analysis is to be encouraged in order to sustain the range and make it more productive. Monitoring of resource trends using suitable indicators is desirable to prevent land degradation. "esearch into the agropastoral /ay of life /ill result in the evolution of institutions and mechanisms that can assist /ith conflict resolution among communities. <ontinuous research into markets! market access and product pricing /ill ensure that livestock in the rangelands remain an economic asset. "eferences Abate! A.L. 8)**5:. 1riefing paperE Livestock! animal health and range management. (orthern "egions Livestock ;evelopment Pro=ect 8(%L4;EP:E Ministry of Agriculture! Water and "ural ;evelopment! (amibia. &* pp. Abate! A., Wakhungu! $.W. and Said! A.(. 8'776:. <attle! goats! sheep and camel production on rangeE the ?enya e.perience. 1ull. Anim. #lth. Prod. Afr.! 5&E'56 '6+

<ately! A.! Leyland! ,. and 1ishop! S. 8)**6:. Policies! practice and particpation in comple. emergenciesE the case of livestock interventions in South Sudan. A case study for the Agriculture and Economics ;ivision of the 9ood and Agriculture %rganisation Elis! (. 8'72):. ,he nutrient composition of Sudanese animal feeds. 1ulletin 44E Southern Sudan. ?uku "esearch <entre! ?hartoum! Sudan 9A% 8'772:. Special report. 9A% crop and food supply assessment mission to Southern Sudan 9EWS 8)**+:. 9EWS South Sudan food security /arning March )**+ G conditions could deteriorate in pastoral -one. 9amine Early Warning System (et/ork 9ielding! W.! 0ullick! <.! <outts! P. and Sharp! 1. 8)***:. An introduction to the food economy research in Southern Sudan! '775 )***. W9P and S< B?! (airobi! ?enya 9orum for Livelihood Analysis 8)**6:. 9orecast $anuary to March )**+ 4L<A 8'72+C2F:. A year of progress and change. 4nternational Livestock <entre for Africa. Annual "eport '72+C2F. Addis Ababa! Ethiopia $ones! 1. 8)**':. "evie/ of rinderpest control in Southern Sudan! '727 )***. ABC41A"! (airobi! ?enya ?assily! 9.(.! and Abate! A.L. 8)**):. <omposition and 3uality of camel diets in central 1aringo! ?enya. 1ull. Anim. #lth. Prod. Afr.! 52E)&7 )5F ?ayongo Male! #. 8'72+:. 9eeding habits! forage 3uality and food intake by -ebu cattle gra-ing natural rangelands in the 4PAL study area. 4PAL ,echnical "eport E2! Bnesco! (airobi! ?enya Mufune! P. 8)**5:. 1riefing paperE Poverty and social aspects. (orthern "egions Livestock ;evelopment Pro=ect 8(%L4;EP:E Ministry of Agriculture! Water and "ural ;evelopment! (amibia. 6) pp. "othauge! A.! Smit! 0.(. and Abate! A.L. 8)**&:. ,he effect of the sub habitat belo/ savanna trees on soil! grass and its utili-ation by cattle. Proceedings of the H44 th 4nternational "angelands <ongress! )+th $uly 'st August )**&! ;urban! South Africa. pp. '*+ '*7 Sch/art-! #.$. 8'72F:. 4mproving utili-ation of natural pastures in arid areas of Afrcia through multiple species gra-ing systems. 4nstitut fuer ,ierproduktion! ,echnische Bniversitaet 1erlin! 0ermany W9P 8)**5:. Sudan Annual (eeds Assessment )**&C)**5. W9P ?hartoum! Sudan