Population, distribution, biomass, and economic value of Equids in Ethiopia.

The research article investigates the economic contribution, biomass, population dynamics, and distribution of Equids, a group of horse-like animals including horses, donkeys, and mules, in Ethiopia. It found that the Equid population, and thus their economic value, increased significantly over the past two decades, becoming a vital part of the local agricultural economies despite being unrepresented in national policies.

Methodology

• The researchers gathered population data on Equids in Ethiopia from the Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency’s annual national agriculture surveys, which were conducted from 2004 to 2020.
• To estimate the economic value and service contribution of Equids, they relied on parameters such as the number of effective service days and daily rental value. These were obtained from interviews and a review of existing literature.
• Descriptive statistics were used to assess population dynamics and distribution patterns.

Results

• The total population of Equids in Ethiopia more than doubled from 5.7 million in 2004 to 13.3 million in 2020. This growth is mainly attributed to the increase in the number of donkeys and horses.
• However, the distribution of these equine populations is uneven across the country, and data in some areas were missing.
• The total biomass of equids was estimated at 7.4 million Tropical Livestock Units (a standard way of measuring livestock based on the animals’ weight), making up 10% of the total livestock biomass in Ethiopia.
• The monetary value of these Equids was approximately USD 1,229 million, representing 3.1% of the total livestock monetary value in the country.
• Furthermore, the service value of Equids, primarily in transportation, was calculated at around USD 1,198 million, contributing to 1.2% of the country’s GDP in 2021.

Conclusions

• The equine population in Ethiopia has demonstrated stable growth over the last two decades, and Equids have become an essential part of transportation and subsistence agriculture in the country.
• Despite the significant economic contributions of Equids, their pivotal role is often overlooked in national livestock investments. This underrepresentation indicates a gap in policy and intervention efforts that could be addressed to fully harness the economic value of Equids.