Cattle Production and Technology Worldwide

Cattle is a major source of protein and dairy products as well as an important sector of the agribusiness industry and national economies worldwide. Furthermore, many communities throughout the developing world rely on their small cattle operations for economic, dietary, and nutritional substance. In South America, as of 2014, Brazil was estimated to have over 212 million head of cattle, Argentina almost 51.7 million, Colombia approximately 22.5 million, and Paraguay accounted for about 14.5 million head of cattle. Meanwhile, in North America, also during 2014, Canada counted little over 12 million head of cattle, the United States had some 88.5 million, and Mexico represented approximately 33 million head of cattle. In Asia, in 2014, China had some 114 million head of cattle, India represented 187 million, and Pakistan accounted for almost 40 million head of cattle. Simultaneously, the African continent as a whole, had an estimated 312 million head of cattle in 2014.

Cattle Production and Technology Worldwide

As demonstrated by the data above, cattle operations are a major part of the economies and agricultural industries of nations worldwide. However, unlike major cattle farms in developed regions, such as Europe, North America, and Australia, rural ranchers in developing countries do not have access to either cutting-edge agricultural technology, or unlimited amounts of feed and water for their cattle. This key difference in resources and technology creates a huge gap between cattle operations in developed versus developing nations. For example, a dairy cow in the United States produces an average of almost 30 liters of milk daily, while a cow in eastern Africa yields under 2 liters of milk a day. Firstly, this is because they are different types of cows. The cattle that roams throughout most of the United States are Holstein Friesian cows, originally from northern Europe, whereas the cattle found throughout Africa is mainly composed of zebu cows, also known as Brahman or humped cows. Secondly, cattle in East Africa does not receive the same amount or quality of food and water that cattle receives in North America. While meat and dairy products can at times be criticized for not being the most sustainable or environmentally friendly source of nutrients, the fact is that millions of people throughout the developing world depend on cattle for their survival. Therefore, increasing the output of existing cattle in developing countries can yield substantial health benefits for their citizens and gains for their economies. Thus, increasing research related to tropical cattle operations as well as access to micro-credits in developing regions will have a positive impact in the world. International institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, are looking into ways to increase the productivity of cattle operations in developing regions through technologies transfers that will help local ranchers.

(Read more about The Importance of Access to Credit in Emerging Regions)