South Sudan's first livestock show in Rumbek
In partnership with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and the United States Army Civil Affairs Battalion, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted the first-ever livestock show in Rumbek on 10th July 2019. The show brought together government officials, representatives of the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, and local residents to share experiences on best practices in the livestock sector.
Livestock keepers gathered in Rumbek Freedom Square and took part in the show with around 150 cattle, 200 sheep and 250 goats.
Livestock is widely known as part of the identity of South Sudan and is one of the main economic activities in the country. Animals are an important economic asset and a central socio-cultural component for the majority of the people of South Sudan. The country counts an estimated 12 million cattle, 12.1 million sheep and 12.4 million goats, making South Sudan one of the world leaders in animal wealth per capita.
On average, each cow can produce up to two liters of milk per day which is mainly used for home consumption, while the surplus is sold at the market. Occasionally, herders sell their animal, be it a bull, a sheep or a goat, to get the money to buy grains, pay school fees or to cover the medical cost for their family members.
The livestock show was an opportunity to draw the attention of pastoralist communities in South Sudan on the economic importance of livestock production instead of keeping large herds for prestige and traditional marriage which often lead to cattle raiding.
“We are looking at enhancing opportunities for commercialization of the livestock sector. Cattle raiding is becoming a serious problem for South Sudan costing the country over 2 million USD excluding loss of life,” said Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan. “FAO will do its best to enable pastoralist communities to move forward, enhance production and commercialization of their livestock”, he added.
During the show, men, women, boys, and girls presented different classes of livestock that were evaluated by a panel of experts from the US Army Civil Affairs battalion and community-based animal health workers who had just completed training with the experts.
The judges categorized the animals into superior, average and inferior based on their potential to produce high-quality food, efficient breeding livestock and saleable offspring. However, as Dr. Leah Tingley, a veterinary doctor with the US Veterinary Corps said “In addition to the production criteria, we are taking into account also social and cultural factors that people in South Sudan value in their animals. The animals need to be aesthetically pleasing, they have to be beautiful”.
The show was also an opportunity for livestock keepers to learn more from each other and share good practices on how to keep animals and produce valuable food. “We need to get keepers to value the production, and not only the social value of their animals. In this way, the animals will be more valuable,” Dr. Tingley continued.
The FAO Representative, the USAID Head of Delegation and the Governor of Western Lakes State gave medals to the owners of the animals that met the selection criteria. Each winner also received different amounts of cash ranging from 8,900 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), around 30 USD, to 29,000 SSP, around 100 USD.
Among those who attended the show, there were groups of women and men engaged in other alternative livelihood activities such as honey production, milk bar, and Community Animal Health Workers’ associations. They showcased their products to attract potential buyers and raise awareness on the availability of their products in the market.