Seasonal patterns of activity, travel and water intake for livestock in South Turkana, Kenya

The nomads of Ngisonyoka Turkana exploit a harsh and seasonally variable environment using five livestock species in a dynamic management system. Season, species and management influenced animal activity budgets during one annual cycle in 1981–2. Relative to the long dry season, the brief wet season...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 1988-05, Vol.14 (3), p.319-331
Main Authors: Coppock, D.L., Ellis, J.E., Swift, D.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
activity
administrative management
distance travelled
livestock
movement
nomadism
pastoralism
seasonal cycle
sociology
water intake
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Summary:The nomads of Ngisonyoka Turkana exploit a harsh and seasonally variable environment using five livestock species in a dynamic management system. Season, species and management influenced animal activity budgets during one annual cycle in 1981–2. Relative to the long dry season, the brief wet season was a time of high resource abundance, increased water intake (cattle, goats, sheep), reduced travel (all species) and increased time available for feeding (cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys). Browsing camels generally showed the least seasonal change in activity budgets and water intake, while grass-dependent cattle exhibited the most change.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31078-4