Name: Namibian Organic Association (NOA)
Country: Namibia
Member of IFOAM – Organics International since 2014
Who benefits from Africa’s traditional livestock practices? What makes these breeds vital in the face of industrial-scale meat production? Across Africa, livestock farming plays a critical role in ensuring sustainable livelihoods and food security, yet the value of these practices is often overlooked. Traditional farming methods and livestock breeds—uniquely adapted to local climates and ecosystems—offer a compelling alternative to industrialised systems.
This article reflects into how these breeds, supported through organic and agroecological approaches, can empower communities, protect biodiversity, and build resilient food systems. Discover why these time-tested practices matter and how they hold the key to a sustainable future.
This article was originally written by Namibian Organic Association and published in ISAN Magazine Issue 11 (page 24).
Livestock production plays a critical role in livelihood and food security strategies. The role of livestock production in African livelihood and food security strategies is undervalued. And there is a push towards industrial meat production on the continent. This section explores sustainable alternatives to the industrial model.
Organic livestock management is based on the same principles that guide organic crop production – Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care. These principles guide how farmers manage, feed and interact with their livestock. They also guide how livestock is managed within the farming ecosystem to avoid any negative impacts on the environment (e.g. overgrazing, uncontrolled build-up of livestock manure).
Organic livestock farming considers animal welfare, organic animal feed and using breeds adapted to the local environment.
Why are adapted breeds important?
The use of adapted breeds is one of the cornerstones of organic livestock management to establish a functioning organic system that is supporting natural cycles. Adapted breeds typically have attributes such as birthing ease, strong mothering instincts, adaptation to feed availability without the need for extensive supplementation, a good temperament, and disease and parasite resistance for the particular environment to which they are adapted. These ‘easy-care’ attributes lead to fewer veterinary interventions and hence lower use of antibiotics or parasiticides.
An important aspect of breed selection in livestock farming for any farmer is the feed conversion rate of the animals. This is the amount of food that is fed to the animal that results in a certain amount of good quality meat. Animals that are well adapted to their environment tend to have a better feed conversion rate for the naturally available fodder compared to those less well adapted. Adapted animals have been able to survive in the given environment for a period of time and their bodies have adjusted to digesting the available feed. This is particularly important in harsh, drought prone environments such as those in Namibia, where grazing availability (quality and quantity) can be a limiting factor for the animal’s performance.
Adapted animals have been able to survive in the given environment for a period of time and their bodies have adjusted to digesting the available feed.
What to look for when selecting animals
The farmer’s ability to select animals that do well in his or her specific farming environment is very important.
When buying animals, it is important that they come from environments with similar conditions to the new environment. Key also is to select breeds or animals that are well suited to farmer’s management.
Animals with regular close human contact need to be more docile, while animals that are left to graze with little human control need to be more reactive towards other species (such as predators or thieves). Organic farmers should consider the economical and ecologically sustainable profit/hectare when selecting a breed for the farm. Meaning that profit per animal can be lower than that of other breeds. For instance, large-framed cattle, e.g. Simbra cattle, reach a significantly higher price per animal when sold to an abattoir or auction than smaller-framed cattle, e.g. Nguni cattle, yet it is possible to keep a larger number of smaller-framed cattle on the same piece of land with less supplementary feed and medication. There is possibly a higher conception rate as they are well adapted to environmental stress.
When buying animals, it is important that they come from environments with similar conditions to the new environment.
Other livestock — pigs and poultry
For animals that are not grazed purely, such as pigs or poultry, similar considerations are still relevant. Organic farmers rarely choose (ultra-) high productivity breeds, as their requirements in terms of feed, care and management might not be met easily on diversified organic farms that produce animal feed on farm and ensure on-farm nutrient cycling. Local breeds are often less demanding in terms of fodder quality and quantity and have good productivity in local climatic conditions. They are also more resilient to local diseases. Local chicken breeds can cover most of their nutritional needs by scavenging while local pig breeds can be fed mainly with on-farm residues of other production lines or value-addition activities. The choice of best-suited animal species and breeds for a farm always depends heavily on local environmental conditions, management practices and market demand. It needs to be carefully considered and reevaluated by any farmer, but specifically by organic farmers, who aim to build on natural systems and enhance natural cycles.
