Biocultural community protocols for livestock keepers
Maasai is threatened, because of strong promotion of cross-breeding with Dorper sheep
and market demand for large bodied animals. The community itself seems to have lost
confidence in its indigenous breed, although it is significantly more drought-resistant than
the Dorper and also required for a number of life-cycle rituals.
The Samburu Community Protocol was launched on 28 May 2010, in Maralal, in the presence of officials from the Kenyan Livestock Production Service. The Samburu were happy
to see their protocol published and expressed eagerness to initiate conservation activities.
Lingayat Biocultural Protocol
This protocol was established by a sub-group of the Lingayat, a large community in southern India, which lives in the Bargur Forest Range in the Western Ghats in Erode District
of Tamil Nadu. They number an estimated 10,000 people and raise a unique cattle breed
named Bargur or Barghur, besides managing the local forests. They also have detailed
knowledge about ethnoveterinary practices. Their cattle-keeping practices are imbued with
ritual meaning. For instance, they believe in giving one day rest to the animals per week
and do not milk the cows on Monday, nor use the bullocks for ploughing on that day. In
each herd, a couple of animals are devoted to God Matheswaraswmi and are maintained
until they die a natural death. The Lingayat report a dramatic reduction of the Bargur cattle
population over the last 10 years, so that now it numbers only about 2,500 head. They feel
threatened by the expansion of the elephant population which destroys their crops. Other
challenges are the spread of poisonous Lantana plant as well as closure of the forests by
the Forest Department. Their biocultural community protocol was established in September
2009 (Samburu Local Livestock Keepers. 2010).
Bargur cattle breeder
showing his calves (photo
courtesy of Society for
Environment and Voluntary Action)
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