article · Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Rising demand for goat meat in Kenya has led smallholder agropastoral farmers to expand flock sizes, driving up greenhouse gas emissions. A study in Baringo county surveyed 124 smallholder meat goat farmers and simulated the effects of improved husbandry practices using the GLEAM-i modelling tool. The evaluation examined changes in flock composition, reproductive performance, and young stock survival and market weights. Findings reveal that maintaining fewer adult males in the flock boosted productivity by 26.9 percent and reduced emission intensity by 13.4 percent, although absolute emissions grew by 10.1 percent. Enhancing reproductive traits raised protein output by 8.4 percent while lowering emission intensity by 8.3 percent and absolute emissions by 1.1 percent. Improving kid survival and slaughter weight increased protein output by 8.4 percent while reducing emission intensity by 4.1 percent. Overall, regular off-take of unproductive animals supports more sustainable smallholder production.
Growing demand for meat often leads pastoralists to increase herd sizes, compounding climate impacts. This research shows that adjusting flock management, particularly by culling unproductive male animals and improving breeding intervals, allows smallholders to generate more protein without proportionately driving up greenhouse gas emissions. It provides practical insights for balancing food security targets with environmental sustainability in semi-arid rangelands.
The findings offer applied simulation evidence intended to guide agricultural extension service providers and policy makers in designing climate-smart livestock interventions. While not a commercial product, the modelled strategies could inform commercial herd-management advice, livestock off-take initiatives, and agricultural advisory services for smallholders. The work represents applied research based on survey data and simulation tools, sitting at an early stage that requires extension deployment rather than direct commercial licensing.
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In Kenya, demand for goat meat is projected to continue rising and farmers in low input agropastoral production system are responding to the growing demand by increasing goat population, perpetuating rise in absolute and intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study assessed influence of improved husbandry on protein food production and GHG emissions. The study was conducted in agropastoral meat goat system in Baringo county where a random sample of 124 smallholder meat goat farmers was interviewed through a cross-sectional farm survey. Descriptive statistics from primary data collected in cross-sectional farm survey was the model base input for simulation modelling using GLEAM-i tool to estimate GHG emissions and productivity. Referenced on average flock performance as base situation, improved husbandry was reflected as change in flock composition towards fewer adult males, increase in slaughter (market) weight and survival rate of young stock, earlier age at first kidding, shorter kidding interval and longer productive life. Improvement in base flock performance value was either to 25 th or 75th percentile value to objectively reflect potential attainable improvement in the flock. Relative to the base situation, fewer adult males in the flock resulted in 26.9% increase in productivity but absolute emissions increased by 10.1% while emission intensity reduced by 13.4%. Improving reproductive performance increased protein production by 8.4% with a reduction of 8.3% in emission intensity and 1.1% in absolute emissions. Increasing the survival of young animals and slaughter weight increased protein production by 8.4% with an increase of 3.8% in absolute emissions and a reduction of 4.1% in emission intensity. These findings show that improved flock composition, by keeping fewer adult males and more adult females have a larger potential of increasing protein production and reducing emission intensity, implying that regular off- take of unproductive animal classes in the flock can enhance sustainability of smallholder meat goat production systems. The results will guide extension service providers and policy makers in developing climate-smart interventions for increasing goat meat production while reducing emission intensity.
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DOI: 10.11648/j.avs.20261404.11
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