Grasslands of the World.pdf - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

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TABLE 7.10
Evolution of stock numbers, 1918–2003 (‘000 head).
Grasslands of the world
Year Camels Horses Cattle ( 1 ) Sheep Goats
1918 228.7 1 150.5 1 078.7 5 700.0 1 487.9
1924 275.0 1 389.8 1 512.1 8 444.8 2 204.4
1930 480.9 1 566.9 1 887.3 15 660.3 4 080.8
1940 643.4 2 538.1 2 722.8 15 384.2 5 096.3
1950 844.2 2 317.0 1 987.8 12 574.6 4 978.6
1961 751.7 2 289.3 1 637.4 10 981.9 4 732.6
1970 633.5 2 317.9 2 107.8 13 311.7 4 204.0
1980 591.5 1 985.4 2 397.1 14 230.7 4 566.7
1985 559.0 1 971.0 2 408.1 13 248.8 4 298.6
1992 415.2 2 200.2 2 840.0 14 657.0 5 602.5
1996 357.9 2 270.5 3 476.3 13 560.6 9 134.8
2000 322.9 2 660.7 3 976.0 13 876.4 10 269.8
2003 275.0 2 200.0 2 053.7 11 797.0 8 858.0
NOTE: (1) cattle includes yaks and their hybrids .
SOURCE: Ministry of Agriculture and Food; Data for 2003 from FAOSTAT.
Plate 7.13
Camels being watered in the Gobi.
authors claim heavier weights, which are, no doubt, possible with selected or
better managed flocks.
Bactrian camels are important in the Gobi and other dry regions and are
used in many other areas to pull carts or carry baggage; they are the only class
of pastoral livestock whose numbers are falling – the decline has been steady
from 860 000 at collectivization in 1960 (when motor transport for camp moves
became available) to 360 000 today; there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that
the fall has ceased and numbers may be beginning to rise. Camels are used
for milk and meat as well as transport; camel -hair is a minor but high-priced
ALICE CARLONI