Regional environmental simulation of African cattle herding societies

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Hum. Ecol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889213· OSTI ID:6964919

Krummel, J R; Markin, J B; O'Neill, R V

Regional analyses of the interaction between human populations and natural resources must integrate landscape scale environmental problems. An approach that considers human culture, environmental processes, and resource needs offers an appropriate methodology. With this methodology, we analyze problems of food availability in African cattle-keeping societies. The analysis interrelates cattle biomass, forage availability, milk and blood production, crop yields, gathering, food subsidies, population, and variable precipitation. While an excess of cattle leads to overgrazing, cattle also serve as valuable food storage mechanisms during low rainfall periods. Food subsidies support higher population levels but do not alter drought-induced population fluctuations. Variable precipitation patterns require solutions that stabilize year-to-year food production and also address problems of overpopulation.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN
• OSTI ID: 6964919
• Journal Information: Hum. Ecol.; (United States), Journal Name: Hum. Ecol.; (United States) Vol. 14:1; ISSN HMECA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
AFRICA
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMALS
ARID LANDS
AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
CATTLE
CROPS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
DROUGHTS
ECOSYSTEMS
FOOD
FORAGE
GRAZING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MAMMALS
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
POPULATIONS
RANGELANDS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RUMINANTS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
VERTEBRATES