IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ssefpa/v17y2025i1d10.1007_s12571-024-01503-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is there unrecognized potential in neglected livestock species in Sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review of four selected species

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Oguche

    (University of Hohenheim)

  • Juliet Kariuki

    (University of Hohenheim
    University of Hohenheim)

  • Regina Birner

    (University of Hohenheim)

  • Mizeck Chagunda

    (University of Hohenheim
    University of Edinburgh)

Abstract

Over the recent years, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has seen an increase in population growth, urbanization, and per capita income. As a result, there has been a corresponding increase in the demand for animal source foods. In order to meet this demand, most countries have resorted to intensifying the production of conventional livestock. However, this increase in production comes with several environmental, nutritional, gender-related and economic challenges that are a rising concern. It is therefore imperative to explore the comparative advantages and disadvantages of other livestock species, which are currently consumed in SSA but are not recognised in widely adopted policies. Herein, using a novel conceptual framework, we present a systematic review of four selected neglected species, namely, grasscutter, guinea fowl, guinea pig, and rabbit. The review was conducted following the checklist for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), and 89 sources of literature were included. The results highlight that embracing these neglected livestock species could confer several benefits, including an enriched nutritional profile (high-quality protein, low fat, high dressing percentage), increased gross economic returns, environmental sustainability, and sustained empowerment of minority groups, especially women. Overall, this review shows the untapped nutritional and socio-economic potential of neglected livestock species, which, if incorporated into mainstream production, could improve food security and reduce unemployment in SSA.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Oguche & Juliet Kariuki & Regina Birner & Mizeck Chagunda, 2025. "Is there unrecognized potential in neglected livestock species in Sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review of four selected species," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 17(1), pages 161-183, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:17:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s12571-024-01503-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-024-01503-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-024-01503-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12571-024-01503-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andreas W. Ebert, 2014. "Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Mabhaudhi, T. & Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Hlahla, S. & Massawe, F. & Mayes, S. & Nhamo, Luxon & Modi, A. T., 2019. "Prospects of orphan crops in climate change," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 250(3):695-.
    3. Pauline Chivenge & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Albert T. Modi & Paramu Mafongoya, 2015. "The Potential Role of Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species as Future Crops under Water Scarce Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-27, May.
    4. Sékou Amadou Traoré & Christoph Reiber & Bekele Megersa & Anne Valle Zárate, 2018. "Contribution of cattle of different breeds to household food security in southern Mali," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(3), pages 549-560, June.
    5. Alessandro Liberati & Douglas G Altman & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Cynthia Mulrow & Peter C Gøtzsche & John P A Ioannidis & Mike Clarke & P J Devereaux & Jos Kleijnen & David Moher, 2009. "The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-28, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vimbayi Grace Petrova Chimonyo & Tendai Polite Chibarabada & Dennis Junior Choruma & Richard Kunz & Sue Walker & Festo Massawe & Albert Thembinkosi Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2022. "Modelling Neglected and Underutilised Crops: A Systematic Review of Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Anne Edwards & Isaac Njaci & Abhimanyu Sarkar & Zhouqian Jiang & Gemy George Kaithakottil & Christopher Moore & Jitender Cheema & Clare E. M. Stevenson & Martin Rejzek & Petr Novák & Marielle Vigourou, 2023. "Genomics and biochemical analyses reveal a metabolon key to β-L-ODAP biosynthesis in Lathyrus sativus," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Maria Gialeli & Andreas Y. Troumbis & Constantinos Giaginis & Sousana K. Papadopoulou & Ioannis Antoniadis & Georgios K. Vasios, 2023. "The Global Growth of ‘Sustainable Diet’ during Recent Decades, a Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Hamid El Bilali & Susanna Rokka & Generosa Calabrese & Teresa Borelli & Francesca Grazioli & Sheirita Reine Fanta Tietiambou & Jacques Nanema & Iro Dan Guimbo & Lawali Dambo & Bassirou Nouhou & Maria , 2024. "Conservation and Promotion of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species in West Africa: Policy and Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Sussy Munialo & Alexandros Gasparatos & Ndiko Ludidi & Ali Elnaeim Elbasheir Ali & Eden Keyster & Musa Oyebowale Akanbi & Mohammad Naushad Emmambux, 2024. "Systematic Review of the Agro-Ecological, Nutritional, and Medicinal Properties of the Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species Tylosema fassoglense," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-29, July.
    6. Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Chibarabada, T. P. & Choruma, D. J. & Kunz, R. & Walker, S. & Massawe, F. & Modi, A. T. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2022. "Modelling neglected and underutilised crops: a systematic review of progress, challenges, and opportunities," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(21):13.
    7. Alhassan Andani & John Baptist D. Jatoe & Ramatu M. Al-Hassan, 2022. "Production of Indigenous Food Crops: Implications for Children’s Nutritional Status of Farm Households in Northern Ghana," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(6), pages 2651-2665, December.
    8. Charlie Mbosso & Basile Boulay & Stefano Padulosi & Gennifer Meldrum & Youssoufa Mohamadou & Aminata Berthe Niang & Harouna Coulibaly & Yara Koreissi & Amadou Sidibé, 2020. "Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, June.
    9. Milena Dalton & Benjamin Sanderson & Leanne J Robinson & Caroline S E Homer & William Pomat & Margie Danchin & Stefanie Vaccher, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 on routine childhood immunisations in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(8), pages 1-17, August.
    10. Ludoviko Zirimenya & Fatima Mahmud-Ajeigbe & Ruth McQuillan & You Li, 2020. "A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between urogenital schistosomiasis and HIV/AIDS infection," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, June.
    11. Desalegne Amare & Fentie Ambaw Getahun & Endalkachew Worku Mengesha & Getenet Dessie & Melashu Balew Shiferaw & Tegenaw Asemamaw Dires & Kefyalew Addis Alene, 2023. "Effectiveness of healthcare workers and volunteers training on improving tuberculosis case detection: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-13, March.
    12. Trang Nguyen & Sara Holton & Thach Tran & Jane Fisher, 2019. "Informal mental health interventions for people with severe mental illness in low and lower middle-income countries: A systematic review of effectiveness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(3), pages 194-206, May.
    13. Alessandro Concari & Gerjo Kok & Pim Martens, 2020. "A Systematic Literature Review of Concepts and Factors Related to Pro-Environmental Consumer Behaviour in Relation to Waste Management Through an Interdisciplinary Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-50, May.
    14. Damiano Pizzol & Mike Trott & Igor Grabovac & Mario Antunes & Anna Claudia Colangelo & Simona Ippoliti & Cristian Petre Ilie & Anne Carrie & Nicola Veronese & Lee Smith, 2021. "Laparoscopy in Low-Income Countries: 10-Year Experience and Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    15. repec:plo:pone00:0214746 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Alessandro Margherita & Emanuele Banchi & Alfredo Biffi & Gianluca di Castri & Rocco Morelli, 2022. "Beyond Total Cost Management (TCM) to Systemic Value Management (SVM): Transformational Trends and a Research Manifesto for an Evolving Discipline," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    17. Stefano D’Angelo & Angelo Cavallo & Antonio Ghezzi & Francesco Di Lorenzo, 2024. "Understanding corporate entrepreneurship in the digital age: a review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(12), pages 3719-3774, December.
    18. Fabio Magnacca & Riccardo Giannetti, 2024. "Management accounting and new product development: a systematic literature review and future research directions," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 28(2), pages 651-685, June.
    19. repec:plo:pone00:0178295 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Evans, Rhiannon & White, James & Turley, Ruth & Slater, Thomas & Morgan, Helen & Strange, Heather & Scourfield, Jonathan, 2017. "Comparison of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide in children and young people in care and non-care populations: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 122-129.
    21. Arjun K Reddy & Jared T Scott & Grayson R Norris & Chip Moore & Jake X Checketts & Griffin K Hughes & Travis Small & Mark M Calder & Brent L Norris, 2023. "Cemented vs Uncemented hemiarthroplasties for femoral neck fractures: An overlapping systematic review and evidence appraisal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, February.
    22. Hang-Nga Mai & Jaeil Kim & Youn-Hee Choi & Du-Hyeong Lee, 2020. "Accuracy of Portable Face-Scanning Devices for Obtaining Three-Dimensional Face Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-15, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:17:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s12571-024-01503-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.