Unconventional Livestock Production

Background The world’s livestock production is dominated by only 5 major livestock types: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry. Ecological diversity and the different levels of economic development in marginal areas have favored the preservation of genetic diversity and have led to the domestication or utilization of a wide variety of animal species, other than the 5 dominant ones. These species are often called unconventional. They utilize a wider range of resources and are usually better adapted to the environment. | Background Objectives Techniques Impacts Context of Application Monitoring: EIA, Indicators References See Also

Objectives

Many categories of animals can be produced toward an economic valorization : deer and antelopes, camelids, large rodents, reptiles, birds, frogs, terrestrial mollusks, insects… The can be classified as follows: Large unconventional animals are able to fill particular ecological niche. Small unconventional animals are able to fill particular economic niche. Game animals occupying ecological niches and contributing to the supply of protein. The main objectives to an animal production from wild species are the following : The diversification of animal production is oriented toward specific markets with high added value (velvet, game meat, leather and fur). The sustainable exploitation of wildlife supports the conservation of the endemic animal diversity. The production of endemic wild animals allows the long term conservation and economic exploitation of natural ecosystems. |

Techniques

Several breeding systems may be used :

- Farming system, intensive,where all the animal needs are covered by the farmer.
- Ranching extensive system, based on native pastures and natural resources.
- Cropping system, where hunting or gathering is controlled or planned and the wild population monitored.

Impacts

- Positive environmental impact

- Valorization and conservation of a wide range of resources.
- Ability of unconventional species to utilize marginal resources.
- Preservation of threatened animal species.
- Preservation of natural habitats for wildlife.
- Alternative to import of foreign species.
- Recycling of nutrients in the food chain.
- Preservation of biodiversity.

- Negative environmental impact

- Reduction of the genetic variability.
- Risk of genetic pollution through introduction of species.
- Possible increase of poaching if distinguishing products of farms from wild animal products is difficult.
- Potential reservoir of diseases affecting domestic animals.
- Conventional livestock form a potential reservoir for diseases affecting less conventional livestock species, including game ranching (e.g. rinderpest).

- Livestock productivity impact

- Increased productivity from resources that may be marginal for conventional livestock production
- Increased productivity through increased utilization of available grazing and browsing resources in a sustainable manner

Context of Application

- Favourable factors:

- A fauna naturally rich.
- Implication of rural populations in the management of the natural resources (participative approach).
- A market for the products of fauna. Also a market for complementary activities (handicraft, tourism).
- Conditions to improve the knowledge on the species, research activities.
- A sufficient integration in the local culture (products socially well accepted).

- Unfavourable factors

- Poaching.
- Gaps of knowledge on biology, health and diseases, feed requirement of animals reared.
- Difficult adoption of breeding principles by ethnic groups of gathers and hunters.
- Realization of economic potential partly limited by legislation to protect wild species.
- Low product quality of traditional game products.

Monitoring: EIA, Indicators

- Number of unconventional species bred.
- Population number of considered species in the wild and in captivity
- Number of farms registered.
- Number of animals marketed.
- Presence of fauna farmer associations.

References

Peters, K.J., 1988. The potential of unconventional livestock production. World Review of Animal Production, 24(2):71-84.

Vietmeyer, N.D. (ed). 1991. Microlivestock: Little known small animals with a promising economic future. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington DC.

See Also

Breed Conservation

Loss of Agricultural Biodoversity

R.J. Hudson. Wildlife production: trends and issues. http://cervid.forsci.ualberta.ca/library/wcapkorea/WCAPfinal.html

New Approaches for the Conservation of African Wildife with and for the Benefit of Rural Communities. http://www.oneworld.org/owe/news/owns/art_en.htm

K. Makombe. Sharing the Land: Wildlife, People and Development in Africa. Africa Resources Trust. http://www.art.org.uk/articles/art_sharing.html

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