Goats and garbage in Khartoum, Sudan: a study of the urban ecology of animal keeping

• Published in: Human ecology : an interdisciplinary journal Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 455 - 475
• Main Authors: Richardson, G.M. (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.), Whitney, J.B.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Plenum Publishing Corporation 01-12-1995; Kluwer Academic Publishers Group; Plenum Publishing Corp; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; Animal populations; Animal waste; Animals; CAPRIN; CAPRINOS; Children; Cities; ELEVAGE; ELIMINACION DE DESECHOS; ELIMINATION DES DECHETS; ENCUESTAS; ENQUETE; Ethnology; GANADERIA; GOATS; HOGARES; HOUSEHOLDS; Human ecology, environment; LINEAR MODELS; loglinear/logit models; MENAGE; MODELE LINEAIRE; MODELOS LINEALES; Morphological source materials; MUNICIPAL REFUSE DISPOSAL; Municipal solid waste; Organic waste; Sheep; SOUDAN; SUDAN; SURVEYS; URBAN AREAS; WASTE DISPOSAL; Waste management; Waste materials; ZONAS URBANAS; ZONE URBAINE; Khartoum; East Africa; Sudan; Khartoum Sudan; Log Linear Model; Pollution; Poverty; Town; Animal; Developing country; Goat; Ecology; Wastes; Management; Protection of the environment
• ISSN: 0300-7839; 1572-9915
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01190132

Waste management in developing world urban areas is an acute problem which is linked to high growth rates and abatement methods less advanced than in the developed world. Existing neighborhood waste management practices often include the use of organic waste as a feed supplement for urban livestock (mainly goats, but also sheep and cattle). These urban animals bring economic benefits to less affluent residents, who would suffer an economic loss if their supply of urban waste was reduced or eliminated by an organized waste collection and disposal strategy. This paper employs a survey of 319 Greater Khartoum households to derive an estimate of waste intake per urban animal, and illustrate demographic factors (e.g., rural or urban roots, income, education, number of children) which influence animal keeping. A loglinear/logit model is developed to predict animal-keeping households. This model can be applied by waste management planners to estimate the frequency of urban animals in developing world urban areas.