Environment suitability mapping of livestock: a case study of Ethiopian indigenous sheep and goats

Abstract

Mapping breeds to suitable environments is important in planning livestock breeding and scaling activities due to its efficiency in allocating improved and new breeds to appropriate habitats for optimal production. In the context of predicting suitable habitats for selected breeds of indigenous sheep and goats, we used geoinformatics based spatial analytic tools to develop breed-specific suitability index maps for four breeds of Ethiopian indigenous sheep (Atsbi, Doyogena, Horro, Menz) and two of goats (Abergelle, Yabello/Borana). The results indicate an overlapping and breed-specific range in the geographic areas that are highly suitable for the study breeds. The two species also differ in geographic areas where they are highly suitable, suggesting species specificity. Our results provide insights for targeting location specific breed interventions, which together with climate change trajectories and natural resource base, will be a major criterion for building resilient livestock production systems. Further analysis, including micro climatic variability, feed stock potential and ecological carrying capacity, will help refine species by-breed agroecological niches.