Factors Affecting Beef Cattle Production Among Pastoral Communities of Marsabit County

Abstract

Beef cattle production in Kenya is a vital sector of the agricultural industry, contributing significantly to the country's economy and food security. The industry is dominated by indigenous breeds such as Zebu and Boran, which are well-adapted to Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions. This study focused on establishing the factors affecting beef cattle production among pastoral communities in Marsabit County Kenya. The following specific objectives guided the research: To determine the effects of inter-pastoral communities conflicts on beef cattle production, to determine the effects of livestock diseases on beef cattle production among pastoral communities in Marsabit County, to determine the effects of feed supplementation on beef cattle production among pastoral communities in Marsabit County, and to examine the effects of market prices on beef cattle production among pastoral communities in Marsabit County. Anchored under the Basic Needs Theory, Resilience and Food Production Theory and Livelihood Diversification Theory. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised of 1210 beef cattle farmers in Marsabit county from which a sample of 320 households was established through judgmental and stratified random sampling method. The distribution of the questionnaires was guided by the perceived level of engagement of respondents in beef cattle farming. Further, to corroborate the responses from the respondents on the variables of study. Data was collected through drop and pick and analyzed by use of SPSS version 27. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire constructs was confirmed before its use. Test for Multicollinearity Test, Test for Heteroscedasticity and Normality Test were conducted before multivariate regression analysis. A reliability coefficient of Cronbach alpha of over 0.7 was returned for all constructs of the independent variables. Descriptive statistics were used to explain the findings. Correlation analysis revealed that Inter community conflicts, livestock diseases, feed supplements and market price were positively and significantly correlated to Beef Cattle Production. Regression analysis results indicated that the factors under study explained 90.2% of the variation in Beef Cattle Production in Marsabit county with effects of Inter community conflicts not statistically significant (β=-0.024; p=0.455) as were effects of feed supplements (β= 0.022, p=0.593) while those of Livestock diseases (β=-0.112; p=0.014) and market price (β=0.820; p=0.000). The ANOVA results confirmed that the model was significant in predicting beef cattle production. It was concluded that all the independent variables collectively influenced beef cattle production. It was recommended that there is a need for proactive measures to mitigate inter-community conflicts, including conflict resolution initiatives, community dialogues, and improved security measures to safeguard both livestock and human lives. Future research should consider these areas can contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at promoting sustainable beef cattle production and enhancing the resilience of pastoral communities in Marsabit County.