Climate change and herd management
adaptation strategies
Michel Dione, ILRI
Training on Climate Change Adaptation in Pastoral Systems
IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School
Somaliland, 17-22 February, 2018

Outline
 Livestock sector in Somalia
 What is climate change
 Climate change in Somalia
 Herd management framework
 How does climate change impact on livestock
systems
 Herd management adaptation practices
 Examples of adaptation strategies in agro-pastoral
systems in Somalia
 Conclusions

Livestock sector in Somalia
 Agriculture is the most important sector for Somaliland’s
economy
 In 2012, the sector contributed to more than 40% of
Somaliland’s GDP – with the livestock sub-sector at 29.5%
 Livestock is the largest contributor to the Somali livelihoods,
engaging an estimated 65% of the population
 Mainly pastoral and agro-pastoral systems; main species are
goats, sheep, camel and cattle
 The main markets for these animals in order of importance are
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Egypt

What is climate change
- Internal fluctuations that
exchange energy, water and
carbon between the atmosphere,
oceans, land and ice
- External influences on the climate
system, including variations in the
energy received from the sun and
the effects of volcanic eruptions.
- Changing concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere (CO2, CH4, N2O)
- Altering the concentrations of
aerosols
- Altering the reflectivity of
earth’s surface by changing
land cover.
 Global climate change is primarily caused by
GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions (ex. CO2, CH4, N20,
O2) that result in warming of the atmosphere
 Changes in climate can occur through both natural and
human-induced causes
++

Greenhouse Gas
Each gas's effect (ex. CO2, CH4, N20, O2) on climate
change depends on three main factors:
 Concentration, or abundance
– the amount of a particular gas in the air
 How long do they stay in the atmosphere?
 How strongly do they impact the atmosphere?

Climate change in Somalia
Fragile resources
 Somalia’s current climate is hot and dry, with uneven
rainfall and regular droughts (USDS, 2010)
 Rainfall data records from 1896 to 1985 in the
Somali habitat indicates to expect ‘short drought’
roughly once in every 3 years and ‘long drought’ in
every 10 years (Elmi 1991, 1993)
 The changes in climate had led to
– Recurrent drought
– Feed scarcity
– Crop failure
– Low yields

Vulnerability
 Land degradation is a prominent environmental issue
(UNEP, 2011), driven
– Drought
– Overgrazing
– Desertification
– soil erosion
– poor agricultural and pastoral practices
 These climatic changes are likely to increase in both
frequency and severity (UNDP, 2014)
 Leading to food insecurity (UNDP, 2014)
Climate change in Somalia

Herd management framework
Herd management is a method to optimize health, welfare and production in a
population
Animal
Animal Health
Feeds and
feeding
strategies
Breeding
and
genetics
Husbandry and
management skills
Improved
productivity
Animal are within a fragile ecosystem; climate change, AMR and animal welfare
need to be addressed to ensure that the production system remains sustainable
and resource efficient into the future
Maximize
market
opportunities
Increased
income
Improved HH
nutrition
Food
security
Environment

How do climate change impact on livestock
systems ?
Herbage change growth (more
effect on c3 species)
most efficient at photosynthesis
in cool, wet climates/beans, rice,
wheat, potatoes
Decrease forage quality (more
effect on c3 species)
Positive effect on plants
(reduction of transpiration,
improved water use efficiency)
Increased of CO2
Adapted from M.M. Rojas-Downing et al. Climate Risk Management 16 (2017) 145–163

How do climate change impact on livestock
systems?
Effect on composition of
pastures (Shifting the
seasonal patterns;
changing optimal growth
rate; changing availability
of water)
Increased of CO2 + Increase of temperature
Adapted from M.M. Rojas-Downing et al. Climate Risk Management 16 (2017) 145–163

How do climate change impact on livestock
systems?
Diseases
Increased pathogens
(parasites, transmission,
spread, vector-borne
diseases, increased severity)
Forages
- Long dry seasons decrease
- Floods changes
Increase of temperature + Precipitation variation
Adapted from M.M. Rojas-Downing et al. Climate Risk Management 16 (2017) 145–163

How do climate change impact on livestock
systems?
Increase of water consumption 2 to 3
times
Forages
- Decrease nutrient availability
- Increase herbal growth (c4 species)
most efficient at photosynthesis in
hot, sunny climates/corn,
sugarcane, amaranth
- Decrease feed intake and efficiency
of feed conversion
Increase of temperature
Adapted from M.M. Rojas-Downing et al. Climate Risk Management 16 (2017) 145–163

How do climate change impact on livestock
systems?
Decrease of reproduction and
reduced egg production for
poultry
Health
- High mortality rates
- Emerging disease
- Metabolic diseases
Increase of temperature
Production
- Decrease of milk production
(high dairy producing cows)
- Decrease of carcass weight
(loos of body fat and thickness)
Adapted from M.M. Rojas-Downing et al. Climate Risk Management 16 (2017) 145–163

Impact of climate change in agro-pastoral systems
in Somalia
 Recurrent droughts
 Increased biodiversity loss
 Species migration and encroachment of invasive
plants,
 Increased rural urban migration
 Changes in the vegetation types
 Soil fertility loss
 Increased infestation of crop by pests and
diseases and increased health risks
Belay et al. 2011: The impact of climate change and adoption of strategic coping mechanisms by agro-pastorals
in Gabiley region, Somaliland. Candlelight for Health, Education & Environment (CLHE) Hargeisa, Somaliland

Impact of climate change in agro-pastoral
systems in Somalia
 Delay in the onset of rains accompanied by short
and insufficient rains cause
 Pasture deficit resulting in livestock mortality
 Increasing their susceptibility to diseases and poor
livestock body condition due to long distance travel
in search of water and pasture reduced
household incomes from livestock and livestock
products.
Belay et al. 2011: The impact of climate change and adoption of strategic coping mechanisms by agro-pastorals
in Gabiley region, Somaliland. Candlelight for Health, Education & Environment (CLHE) Hargeisa, Somaliland

Herd management adaptation strategies to
climate change
Husbandry
 Review the structural integrity of your barns, shelters and fencing
in light of the possibility of more frequent and more severe storms
 Risk management plans
– Capability to sustain your animals if you should have flood for more
than a day (ex. feed storage)
– Determine whether or not you need an evacuation plan for your
animals in the event of a weather or other (e.g., fire) emergency
– Ensure water supply and water quality (ex. flooding or extended
drought)
 Reduce disease vectors on your farm/HH (ex. mosquito breeding
areas)
 Enroll your farm in insurance

Herd management adaptation strategies to
climate change
Livestock production and management systems
 Diversification of livestock animals and crops
– fighting against climate change-related diseases
and pest outbreaks
 Integration of livestock systems with forestry and
crop production carbon sequestration)
 Changing the timing and locations of farm
operations

Herd management adaptation strategies to
climate change
Livestock production and management systems
 Mixed crop-livestock systems
– improve efficiency by producing more food
on less land using fewer resources, such as
water
 Improving feeding practices
– modification of diets composition, changing
feeding time and/or frequency – use of locally
available feeds; crop rotation

Herd management adaptation strategies to
climate change
Breeding strategies
 Changes in breeds
– increase animal tolerance to heat stress and
diseases and improve their reproduction and
growth development
Herd accumulation
 Wealthier pastoral households weather calamities
better than poorer ones (Næss et al. 2010)

Adaptation measures to climate change
Farmers’ perception and adaptive capacity
 Disposition and capability of farmers to recognize the
problem and adopt climate change adaptation and
mitigation measures
– collect information about farmers’ perceptions to
mitigation and adaptation measures)
 Education, capacity building and social interaction
among farmers and farming communities
 Family farm succession

Example of adaptation strategies to climate
change in Somalia
Herd diversification
 Shift from fewer cattle to more camel production
with shoats to sustain subsistent households’
income.
 Milk of camel and goats greatly preferred in local
markets (due to their lower fat content)
Belay et al. 2011: The impact of climate change and adoption of strategic coping mechanisms by agro-pastorals
in Gabiley region, Somaliland. Candlelight for Health, Education & Environment (CLHE) Hargeisa, Somaliland

Example of adaptation strategies to climate
change in Somalia
Migration
 Migration with camels towards the mountainous and
cosatal areas
 Usually shoats remain in the homestead areas. This is
mainly because camels travel long distances and
need more feed than goats
Belay et al. 2011: The impact of climate change and adoption of strategic coping mechanisms by agro-pastorals
in Gabiley region, Somaliland. Candlelight for Health, Education & Environment (CLHE) Hargeisa, Somaliland

Conclusions
 All impacts of climate change cannot be addressed
until they manifest themselves
 However, there is need for taking steps that may prove
important later
 There is potential for livestock farmers to adapt to
climate change through the implementation of
different technologies and practices

Conclusions
 Farmers need to be aware of the situation and willing
to adopt practices
 There is need for more studies that provide
information on climate change and adaptation
strategies in smallholder pastoral and agro pastoral
livestock systems

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