Is Africa different? Economics of the Livestock Sector

Abstract

This abstract is based on a full-length paper written by Martin Upton in 2012. This paper provides a comprehensive review of economics of the African livestock sector focused at the subcontinental and national rather than the household level. In turn, it addresses the role of livestock in development; considers whether Africa is different in terms of economics, imports of livestock products, and land and labour resources; and reviews opportunities and constraints in livestock production, trade, non-market functions, value chains, animal feed, and animal and public health. Finally, based on this review, it concludes that devoting more attention to the livestock sub-sector is justified by growing demand for animal sourced products and the opportunity this provides to increase incomes, nutrition and welfare of the rural poor. This is an output from the ‘Global Alliance For Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed): Phase 2 – Protecting Livestock and Saving Human Lives’ programme