The power of indigenous livestock breeds for rural transformation

Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, LPP 4th April, 2014 at NARI in Lae, PNG

Why indigenous breeds?

• „Their yields are so small“

• „We don‘t even know about their performance or even their existence“.

• „Farmers want fast growing animals – which are also good for food security and poverty alleviation..“

Structure

• 1. Global context of livestock development

• 2. Role of livestock for the poor

• 3. Advantages of local breeds

• 4. Need to rethink the productivity paradigm?

• 5. Examples of local production systems from India

• 6. Experiences with local pig breeds

Livestock in crisis

The FAO regards livestock as : – the biggest enemy of the environment

– 18% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions (calculations are being revised)

– responsible for land degradation

– source of pollution (esp. marine and waterways) with nitrogen and phosphorous – green tide

– biodiversity loss

The other population bomb

livestock

humans

3.6 x increase

data: FAOSTATS

Source: Presentation by Tony Weis: The Meat of the Global Food Crisis

Livestock population bomb

slaughtered

livestock

humans

7.1 x increase

data: FAOSTATS

Source: Presentation by Tony Weis: The Meat of the Global Food Crisis

Growth in animal slaughter

• „We have to produce more with less“

• „We have to increase resource use efficiency“

“For example, the introduction of advanced genetics, feeding systems, and animal health protection have enabled industrialized countries, over the past four decades, to reduce their overall land requirements for livestock by 20%, while at the same time doubling

total meat production”

In Germany….

Livestock development according to the western model at what cost ?

• Social – loss of rural income opportunities, increased unemployment rates.

• Biodiversity loss – both domestic animal diversity and floral diversity

• Routine application of antibiotics and other additives

• Animal welfare

Significance of livestock for the poor

100 million rural poor (defined as existing on less than $ 2.00/day).

More than 70% are fully and partially dependent on livestock.

Livestock is the most important asset of the rural poor

Pastoralists • Worldwide an estimated

120 million pastoralists utilize the 41 percent of the earth’s land surface where crops can’t be grown: tropical and subtropical drylands, mountainous and high-altitude zones, very cold areas.

• By means of grazing they convert the local vegetation into food and energy that can sustain people.

Smallholders/women

• About 600-700 million smallholders raise small numbers of livestock on crop residues, left overs, in “interstitial” spaces (along road sides)

• Zero to minimal input, but often highly profitable – interest rates much higher than in bank

Livestock Revolution

The situation changes when people switch from local breeds to high-input

systems, as during the “Livestock Revolution”.

The Livestock Revolution is a term coined in 1999 to describe a

development in the livestock sector which is similar to the “Green

Revolution”:

Local breeds are replaced with high input and high output hybrid animals

(poultry and pigs) – farmer loses breeding function and becomes dependent

on purchased inputs.

From Asset to Liability?

•Farmers often get into a debt trap

squeezed between escalating input

prices and the consolidated power of the

food processors and supermarket chains

on the other.

•The financial squeeze “forces many

farmers to cut costs wherever they can,

and creates strong incentives to unethical

behaviour.”

Concentration and consolidation

• In India, the most rapid growth in livestock population has been among large landholders, and concerned especially industrial poultry units. The number of stock owned by the poor, including small ruminants, pigs, and poultry, is decreasing dramatically (Chacko in FAO,2010).

• In Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) the number of pig producers shrunk from 85,000 to 10,000 between 1995 and 2008

• In Romania, pig producers declined by 90% in 4 years

Loss of jobs and debts in Europe

Dairy farmers in Denmark Debts average € 2.25 million/per farm € 19,000/per cow (Mathias, 2012)

Dairy farmers in Germany 4000 (about 4%) are expected to go out of

business this year (website Green Party Germany)

1984 2008

33,800 dairy producers 3,780 dairy producers

For the sake of national autonomies and of rural livelihoods, this is not what should happen in developing countries!

WE NEED LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT THAT BUILDS ON LOCALLY AVAILABLE RESOURCES – BREEDS AND BIOMASS

Why?

„GREEN“ • Optimal utilization of local

biomass lessens dependence on feed imports

• Breeds are resistant to disease –use of antibiotcs can be minimized

• Locally evolved systems are largely compatible with notions of animal welfare

• No fossil fuels needed (for fertilizer, transport of feed, etc.)

EQUITABLE • Have been developed and

stewarded by PEOPLE for generations

• Reproduce naturally • Represent cultural heritage • Require no huge investment in

infrastructure • Low risk

Utilize all kinds of eco-systems: Example Chilka lake buffaloes in Odisha/India

Mobile pig keeping in high rainfall India

Camels grazing in mangroves

Use of alpine pastures in India

Livestock production in tune with local resources.

• We need to support and facilitate

the optimal utilization by domestic animals of the locally available biomas, especially in remote and marginal areas, as well as in interstitial spaces, for instance along road sides, and improved use of the aftermath on harvested fields.

• This requires animals with specific behavioural characteristics and ability to walk

• Learned behaviour is important

Example: Thar Desert in India

Tharparkar cattle

Stored

Ghee

Jaisalmeri sheep

Marwari goat

Jaisalmeri dromedary breed

Food products with health benefits

Camel Forage Plants

36 Camel forage plants: containing phytochemicals and most of them with proven medicinal value

Jaisalmeri Ghee

Sale price is 70% higher.

The taste panel found it to be better both as raw and cooked for taste and aroma.

The laboratory analysis showed significantly higher contents of vitamin A,E and carotenoids.

Table showing taste panel results

Character Jaisalemeri ghee Commercial Ghee Appearance 7.58 2.46 Flavour 7.80 2.02 Aroma 8.00 2.02 Based on scale of 1 to 8

Table showing the fatty acid and the vitamin composition of ghee

Name of fatty acid Jaisalmeri

ghee

Commercial ghee

butyric acid C4:0 % by mass 2.1 0.2

caporic acid C6:0 % by mass 1.7 1.5

caprylic acid C8:0 % by mass 1.2 0.7

capric acid C10:0 % by mass 3.1 1.4

lauric acid C12:0 % by mass 2.7 2

tridecanoic acid C13:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

myristic acid C14:0 % by mass 9.8 9.9

myristoleic acid C14:1 % by mass 1.2 0.6

pentadecanoic acid C15:0 % by mass 1.7 1.3

palmitic acid C16:0 % by mass 30 32.6

palmitoleic acid C16:1 % by mass 1.8 1.7

heptadecanoic acid C17:0 % by mass 1.1 0.9

cis-heptacanoic acid C17:1 % by mass 0.5 0.4

CONTINUED stearic acid C18:0 % by mass 20.3 11.4

oleic acid cisC18:1 % by mass 27.2 25

linoelaidic acid C18:2 % by mass 0.6 0.3

linoleic acid cis C18:2 % by mass 2.4 5.8

omega-linolenic

acid

cis C18:3 % by mass 0.6 0.7

arachidic acid C20:0 % by mass 0.4 0.7

eicosenic acid C20:1 % by mass 0.1 0.3

arachidonic acid C20:4 % by mass 0.1 0

heneicosanoic acid C21:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

behenic acid C22:0 % by mass 0.2 0.6

tricosanoic acid C23:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

lignoceric acid C24:0 % by mass 0.1 0.1

0.1

contd

vitamin A mg/Kg 19.2 18.3

vitamin D3 mg/Kg 0 0

vitamin E mg/Kg 166.9 131.3

carotenoids mg/Kg 2.7 0.2

Jaiselmeri Goat Meat

The meat sold at 25% higher prices than the goat meat imported from adjoining districts.

The taste panel conducted outside the district showed significantly higher aroma, flavour, texture and overall palatability than that from local goats.

Camel products

Lesson learnt:

• Establishment of value chains benefits not only the producers of the raw materials (camel breeders), but creates a myriad of rural job opportunities for processors, especially women.

Local breeds are a long-term business opportunity

• Consumers increasingly concerned about animal welfare and health issues

• Low-input costs

• Independence from fossil fuels

Let us ensure that livestock keepers get the opportunity to capitalize on them!

Examples from the pig sector: Pedigree pork

“Do you long for Pork that has real flavour and taste? Pork that melts in your mouth? Succulent and juicy when cooked? Traditional cured bacon and hand made sausages?”

The BPA can put you in touch with small scale pig producers who still produce pork like Grandma and Grandpa remember it. Dedicated pig enthusiasts who are proud to be able to offer you a very special eating experience from their small herds of pedigree pigs. Traditional Breeds such as Tamworth, Saddleback, Berkshire, etc. that reflect Britain’s rich heritage of native breeds and strong reputation for outstanding pork, bacon and sausages.

Gloucester Old Spot Pig

known as the 'orchard pig or 'the pig with the built in apple sauce', because it grazed on the windfall apples in the orchards that once grew in abundance along the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire.

Schwaebisch-Hallische Pig in Germany

Some possible steps (from the perspective of an outsider)

• Participatory documentation of PNG pig husbandry systems to develop awareness and raise profile

• Maybe develop Biocultural Protocols in places where local people can facilitate?

• Establish linkages with private entrepreneurs? Maybe some study tours to Australia?

Strategic Priority No. 6 of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources calls for:

• Support indigenous and local livestock systems of importance to animal genetic resources, including through the removal of factors contributing to erosion.

• Promote exchange, interaction

and dialogue ……in order to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific approaches.

• Promote the development of

niche markets for products derived from indigenous and local species and breeds…..

What livestock keepers want…..

• “Livestock Keepers shall have the right to appropriate training and capacity building and equal access to relevant services enabling and supporting them to raise livestock and to better process and market their products.”

Women pig keepers in PNG have the entrepreneurial potential

Tenkyu, PNG, for your hospitality !