Horn of Africa livestock trade can capture greater value

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

I write these words from the Horn of Africa, a region whose history is deeply intertwined with the global livestock trade.

For millennia, it has linked pastoral production systems to markets across the Middle East and North Africa. Records from the medieval and early modern periods attest to enduring commercial ties between pastoral communities in the Horn and trading partners across the Arabian Peninsula.

The region is home to more than 350 million sheep and goats and remains one of the world’s leading livestock producers and exporters. Livestock exports are growing in value, with Somalia alone surpassing $1.5 billion annually. Sheep and goats account for a significant share of these exports, much of which is destined for Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Behind these statistics are millions of pastoralists whose livelihoods depend on stable markets and predictable policies. The livestock export market is exacting and leaves little room for error.

Today, the sector stands at a critical inflection point.

The region has significant strengths — scale, diversity and a long-established reputation in international markets — but also faces mounting challenges.

Importing countries impose strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards to protect animal health and meat safety, alongside rigorous traceability requirements. Failure to meet requirements on animal health, documentation or handling can result in rejected shipments, reputational damage and significant financial losses.

Yet compliance can also open opportunities for market expansion. Equally important is a shift towards value addition. Investment in meat processing, grading and branding would allow the region to capture a larger share of the value chain. High-quality, processed, branded and fully traceable meat products command higher prices in international markets.

Increase export revenues

This can strengthen competitiveness, increase export revenues and build a more resilient livestock sector across the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region.

Value addition, however, depends on reliable and timely market information, including consumer preferences, regulatory requirements and demand in destination markets.

Standards that determine product acceptance and pricing must be effectively communicated to pastoralists and aggregators.

Producers also need greater awareness of post-harvest practices, including animal health management, appropriate feeding, safe and humane transport and hygiene. These directly influence product quality and compliance.

Sustainability is no longer peripheral to procurement decisions in high-value export markets. Buyers increasingly demand assurances that livestock are produced responsibly.

Pastoral production offers ecological advantages because livestock are generally reared under extensive, low-input conditions on natural rangelands. This can position the region favourably in markets that value sustainability and ethical sourcing, strengthening the case for protecting rangelands and documenting sustainable practices.

Technology will also shape a competitive and compliant export sector. Digital traceability can enable real-time tracking from origin to destination, while digital communication platforms can speed the exchange of market information and advisory services. Enhanced disease surveillance can support early detection and faster responses.

Climate change

Investment in critical infrastructure is equally important. Reliable quality-testing facilities, well-equipped disease-control laboratories and internationally accredited certification bodies are fundamental to building credibility in highly regulated export markets.

Climate change adds another layer of uncertainty. Increasing variability in temperature and rainfall affects animal performance, feed and water availability, disease prevalence and productivity.

These pressures require adaptive strategies, better rangeland management, improved feed planning and conservation, and stronger disease-control measures. Sustained investment in research and effective extension services will be essential to ensure innovations reach producers in practical and timely ways.

Ultimately, resilience will be decisive. The ability of livestock systems to withstand climatic stress will determine whether production can keep pace with growing global demand.

Despite these pressures, the outlook is promising. Through strategic engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area, systematic value addition, improved market intelligence and better coordination across the supply chain, the region can consolidate its gains and expand its global presence.

If these elements are harmonised, the Horn of Africa can sustain growth while elevating its livestock sector. The opportunity is significant, but realising it will require better knowledge, progressive policies, stronger coordination and foresight.

Dr Guyo Malicha Roba, PhD is Head of Dryland Development Unit IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.