ILRI study calls for a formal grading system for export quality Somali livestock

Batch of export quality Somali goats (photo credit: Terra Nuova).

Somalia is the largest exporter of live animals from Africa. The country, however, does not have a formal system of grading livestock and livestock products. Such a system is needed to enforce quality control for purposes of stabilizing and expanding international livestock trade. The system would also ensure that the prices of livestock and livestock products are determined on the basis of defined standards.

As a step towards formalizing the existing informal grading system used in Somalia for export quality livestock, researchers from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Terra Nuova have identified improved animal nutrition and livestock breeding programs as two possible interventions.

Increasing the quality and availability of animal feed during the long journey from the point of initial purchase to the point of slaughter will lead to enhanced livestock body condition. Body condition was identified as the most important trait used in grading of livestock for export.

Targeted livestock breeding and selection programs will, in the long term, enhance livestock body conformation which was found to be the second most important trait in grading of livestock.

These recommendations are based on a collaborative study by ILRI and Terra Nuova to assess and document information related to the grading of export quality Somali livestock. The specific objectives of the study were to:

• identify the grading system in use for the four types of export quality Somali livestock (camels, cattle, goats and sheep) in selected markets, based on brokers' and traders' local knowledge;
• analyze and document the rationale behind the identified grading system;
• evaluate the relationship between the grading system and price; and
• ascertain the validity of the grading system in real market environment.

Sex, age, body condition and body conformation were identified as the four main traits used in grading of Somali livestock destined for export. The levels within these traits were: sex (male or female); age (years or categorized as either immature or mature), body condition (excellent, good or fair) and conformation (excellent, good or fair).

The interactions of the alternative levels of these traits gave rise to three commercial grades for export quality livestock, classified in decreasing order of quality as grades I, II, III. However, these grades varied depending on the destination of export and use of the animals.

The findings of the study will be a useful source of reference for regulatory agencies and others involved in formalizing and publicizing of Somalia's grading system for export quality livestock.

ILRI study characterizes Somali chilled export meat value chain

Batch of young goats for slaughter and export of chilled meat, Hargeisa Market, Somaliland (photo credit: Terra Nuova).

Export-oriented pastoral livestock production is an important source of livelihood of the people of Somalia. The country is largely food deficient, with imports forming a significant proportion of basic food requirements and which are largely financed through earnings from exports of live animals and meat.

The export of meat products offers more avenues for increased earnings and tax revenue by exploiting the available opportunities for domestic value addition, than does live animal trade.

A collaborative research study by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Terra Nuova characterized the Somali chilled export meat value chain in terms of actors, institutions and practices and provided an initial analysis of their profitability in handling four species of livestock.

The main objective of the study was to provide information that would enable development of strategies to improve the efficiency of the Somali chilled meat export value chain as a way of increasing incomes to market actors.

The study presents preliminary recommendations for public and private sectors. These focus on value addition and information sharing on what constitutes value, building of product identity and legally protecting its unique status, and coordination to address costs.

Download the research report here

Citation
Negassa A, Baker D, Mugunieri L, Costagli R, Wanyoike F, Abdulle MH and Omore A. 2012. The Somali chilled meat value chain: Structure, operation, profitability and opportunities to improve the competitiveness of Somalia’s chilled meat export trade. ILRI Research Report 32. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi.

New journal article: Predictive model developed to improve rinderpest control in Somalia

A newly developed predictive model shows potential to improve surveillance and control of rinderpest in central and southern Somalia.

The model combines spatial and network factors to identify point locations and areas with high risk of presence of rinderpest. These are then used to generate a risk map that can help in prioritizing disease surveillance and control activities. This is particularly important in Somalia where veterinary resources are scarce.

In addition to improving surveillance efforts for rinderpest, the integration of spatial and network parameters in the model allows for its application to other livestock species (such as sheep, goats and camels) and diseases in nomadic pastoral systems.

The development of this new model is described in a journal article published in the May 2010 issue of the open access journal BMC Veterinary Research.

The article is based on research carried out within the framework of the Improvement and Diversification of Somali Livestock Trade and Marketing project implemented by ILRI and Terra Nuova. Former ILRI Markets theme researcher, Tom Otieno, is a co-author.

Read the article here.

Citation:
Ortiz-Pelaez A, Pfeiffer DU, Tempia S, Otieno FT, Aden HH and Costagli R. 2010. Risk mapping of rinderpest sero-prevalence in central and southern Somalia based on spatial and network risk factors. BMC Veterinary Research 6:22.