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Cattle numbers, biomass, productivity and land degradation in the commercial farming sector of Namibia, 1915-95

Author

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  • Glenn-Marie Lange
  • Jonathan Barnes
  • Daniel Motinga

Abstract

As part of a natural resource accounting project undertaken in Namibia, livestock accounts have been drawn up and are being used to analyse the relationship between numbers of livestock, rainfall, land degradation, and economic and policy variables. Part of the analysis concerns an investigation into trends in cattle numbers, changes in cattle biomass and the productivity of livestock in commercial areas. Cattle numbers increased from 1914 until 1960, then declined steadily to half that number. This decline was at least partly due to deliberate actions by farmers to improve herd productivity and production efficiency. Although beef production did not decline over this period, productivity is still lower than potential industry standards. Range degradation (bush encroachment) may have contributed to this curtailment. This investigation has implications for an understanding of long-term carrying capacity, land degradation and rangeland management, and for agricultural development policies in Namibia and similar regions in southern Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Glenn-Marie Lange & Jonathan Barnes & Daniel Motinga, 1998. "Cattle numbers, biomass, productivity and land degradation in the commercial farming sector of Namibia, 1915-95," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 555-572.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:15:y:1998:i:4:p:555-572
    DOI: 10.1080/03768359808440031
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    Cited by:

    1. Jesper Stage, 2002. "Structural Shifts In Namibian Energy Use: An Input‐Output Approach," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 70(6), pages 1103-1125, September.
    2. Mahabile, M. & Lyne, Michael C. & Panin, A., 2005. "An empirical analysis of factors affecting the productivity of livestock in southern Botswana," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Reid, Hannah & Sahlen, Linda & Stage, Jesper & MacGregor, James, 2007. "The economic impact of climate change in Namibia. How climate change will affect the contribution of Namibia’s natural resources to its economy," Discussion Papers 37922, International Institute for Environment and Development, Environmental Economics Programme.

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