Cattle play an important role in Somalia’s agriculture and pastoral economy, though they are secondary to camels in terms of cultural significance and adaptability to harsh conditions. Somalia’s cattle population is concentrated in regions with relatively better water availability and grazing land, primarily in the southern and central areas. These areas, which include the Jubba and Shabelle river basins, offer more favourable conditions for cattle compared to the arid and semi-arid northern regions. The genetic resource or breed of cattle found in Somalia are mainly the East African Zebu type of which the following breeds are recognized: Somali Boran, Gasara, Dauara and Surqo.
Somali Boran
The Somali Boran is a large cattle breed, characterized by a mature height at the withers of 117–147 cm for males and 114–127 cm for females. Their weight typically ranges from 500–850 kg for adult males and 380–450 kg for females. The breed’s coat is predominantly white with black points, though it can also display pigmentation.
This breed is small, with a maximum weight ranging between 250 and 300 kg. Its coat color varies and may be lead-grey, dark grey, dark red, pied, or fawn, often with a distinct white face. The horns are short and thin, while the hump is highly pronounced, making it a notable feature of this animal.
Dauara
The animals are small with a maximum weight of between 280–320 kg, the coat colour is red or sandy red sometimes with patches of black, the hump is small, the horns are short and thin, and they can be loose or absent, the back slopes sharply upwards raising the rump higher than the withers.
Surqo
The breed has is the same size as the Somali Boran with a large body and short legs, the coat is white coat, light brown and dark mahogany. it has a moderate thoracic to cervico-thoracic hump. The breed is mainly used for meat and milk.
Over the decades, the cattle population has experienced fluctuations influenced by various factors, including droughts, conflict, and grazing conditions. In 1980, the population was 4.3 million and slightly increased to 4.4 million by 1985. However, it declined to 4 million in 1990, possibly due to environmental or socio-economic challenges.
The population showed significant growth in the mid-1990s, reaching 5.2 million in 1995 and peaking at 5.5 million in 2005. This increase may reflect favourable climatic conditions or improved pastoral practices during that period. After 2005, the population began to decline, falling to 4.8 million in 2010 and remaining relatively stable until 2019, with minor variations around 4.7 to 4.8 million. By 2021, the cattle population had dropped to 4.4 million, indicating ongoing challenges such as drought or limited access to resources.
The overall trend highlights the resilience of cattle herding in Somalia despite recurring environmental and political challenges, underscoring its importance to the livelihoods of Somali pastoralists.
Graph 1. Cattle Population Trends by million heads in Somalia (1980–2021).
FAOSTAT; 2023
The cattle milk production peaked in 1994 and 1995, exceeding 500,000 metric tons. Afterward, there was a slight decline, followed by stabilization around 450,000 metric tons from the early 2000s onward. Production levels have remained relatively consistent over the years, with only minor fluctuations observed.
Cattle Milk Production in Somalia (1994–2022
FAOSTAT; 2023
the trends in Somalia’s cattle exports from 2017 to 2022, including both export quantity and value. Export quantities fluctuated significantly, with a peak in 2019 (212,825) and a notable drop in 2022 (16,410). Similarly, export values followed a declining trend after peaking in 2019 at 49,765 (in unspecified units). By 2022, the value of cattle exports fell sharply to 5,425. This data reflects variations in export performance over the years.
Cattle Export Quantity and Value in Somalia (2017–2022)
FAOSTAT; 2023
Reference
Courtesy: ILRI Project Report: Author Anne Muigai. https://downloads.unido.org/ot/21/18/21186798/6_UNIDO_MoCI%20Report%20livestock%20subsector_final.pdf
FAO; 2023. Crops and livestock products. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/TCL/://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize
