Factors Contributing to the Low Livestock Wealth in the Arab World
The term “livestock” refers to farm animals, excluding poultry, and primarily includes cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and donkeys. The importance of livestock wealth stems from its role in achieving food security, which is increasingly threatened by climate change. Arab countries face significant challenges related to low livestock production and productivity due to various factors, as outlined below:
Drought
Drought represents a severe issue in the Middle East, with approximately 90% of the regions in Arab countries being arid or semi-arid, creating unfavourable conditions for livestock production. Additionally, the most suitable areas for agricultural production are afflicted by the tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis, which hinder agricultural development.
The region exhibits a harsh and fragile environment, characterized by limited ecosystems and water resources. Furthermore, prevailing high temperatures place additional stress on animals, requiring them to expend extra energy to maintain their thermal balance, consequently leading to low feed efficiency and reduced production capacity.
Low Productivity Capacity
With a continually increasing population, the demand for meat and dairy products is rising. However, the ability to meet these needs remains constrained due to limited imports. Seasonal fluctuations in feed supply exacerbate this issue; significant variations in feed availability lead to noticeable changes in the weight gain rates of grazing animals. This variability results in decreased productivity and poor quality of animal products, ultimately, most of the available feed is used merely for maintenance.
Moreover, incentives for livestock owners to enhance production are often insufficient, resulting from the ineffectiveness of marketing organizations, including inadequate processing and storage facilities to ensure reliable supplies for consumers and feed for producers.
Changes in consumption patterns and lifestyles also play a crucial role in increasing food demand, further accelerating land degradation. Additionally, poverty in rural areas, urban migration, rising food prices, and deteriorating balance of payments further complicate the situation.
Animal Diseases
Poor nutrition contributes to a high susceptibility of livestock to diseases and parasites, resulting in significant losses in productivity. The development of the livestock sector is severely constrained by the burden of infectious diseases such as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, sheep and goat plague, and foot-and-mouth disease.
These diseases hamper the ability to achieve self-sufficiency in protein sources and pose major barriers to national, regional, and international livestock trade.
Additionally, inadequate transport conditions for livestock can impact productivity unfavourably. Long-distance movement of cattle may lead to minimal profits from sales due to weight loss. Furthermore, existing land tenure systems may deter potential successful livestock projects, as many owners may have to graze their animals on land that is not theirs.