Land degradation is a major threat to sub-Saharan Africa rangelands, which are crucial for livestock farming and the livelihood of millions of people in the region. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes and effects of land degradation, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we identified, screened, and analyzed 25 peer-reviewed articles published before 30 June 2024 using Scopus. The review highlights key factors that drive land degradation, such as soil erosion, drought, deforestation, and climate change, as well as socio-economic factors like poverty, land tenure issues, population pressure, and economic instability. These factors have serious implications, as land degradation can lead to poor quality of forage, an increased incidence of diseases, higher mortality rates among livestock, and a significant decline in livestock productivity. The socio-economic consequences of this degradation are significant, leading to reduced household income, increased poverty, and heightened food insecurity. Furthermore, the review assesses various mitigation strategies and concludes that practices such as rotational grazing and soil conservation techniques demonstrate high effectiveness, while agroforestry practices show only moderate success. An integrated approach that combines environmental, economic, and policy measures is crucial to addressing the complex challenge of land degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. Strengthening land tenure, improving economic stability, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices are essential steps toward improving the health of rangelands, increasing livestock productivity, and supporting the resilience and well-being of rural communities.

The adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices is crucial for enhancing resilience to climate change in rural communities, particularly in developing regions like the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This study provides an in-depth examination of the factors constraining farmers’ adoption of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart practice in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape. The research aims to identify the barriers and challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of cattle feedlots and understand the underlying factors contributing to the farmers’ decision-making processes. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews, to gather data from 250 farmers in rural communities of the Eastern Cape. The data were analyzed using regression analysis and thematic analysis to identify the key constraints inhibiting the adoption of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart strategy. The findings revealed several significant constraints that farmers faced in adopting cattle feedlots. Financial limitations, including limited access to credit and lack of financial resources, emerged as critical barriers. Infrastructure and resource constraints, such as inadequate water supply and electricity, hindered adoption. Knowledge and skills gaps, cultural and social factors, market limitations, and environmental considerations further contributed to the constraints experienced by farmers. To address these constraints, the study proposes interventions to promote the adoption of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart practice. These interventions include improving access to affordable financing options, providing capacity-building programs on feedlot management and climate-smart practices, disseminating information on feedlot benefits and best practices, developing the necessary infrastructure, strengthening market linkages, and creating a supportive policy environment. However, it is important to note the study’s limitations, such as the small sample size and the cross-sectional nature of the data, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Further research is needed to validate and expand upon these findings in a broader context. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the factors constraining farmers’ adoption of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart practice in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Livestock offers substantial opportunities for food security and sustainable development with appropriate adaptation to climate change. Nowadays, climate change is among the critical problems facing less privileged rural people directly depending on livestock to survive. This paper aimed to analyse the existing literature and identify knowledge gaps about climate change impacts and response strategies in rural livestock production of South Africa. The study utilized a systematic literature review with key search terms such as “climate change” (weather, variability), “livestock” (monogastric*ruminants), “impact” (heat stress; feeds; pasture; production; reproduction; health; vector-diseases), and “adaptation” (strategies; vulnerability; risks; resilience). The search was run through scientific databases such as Google scholar, Science direct, Cab direct, Sabinet and Sematic scholar, targeting titles, abstracts and keywords. From the 62 suitable peer-reviewed publications examined in the current paper, five limitations were discovered, namely: (1) limited contextual studies of South Africa’s rural livestock farming communities; (2) a silo approach to investigations on impacts and adaptation in rural livestock production; (3) drawbacks on mixed crop-livestock systems as an effective response to climate change; (4) limited studies on monogastric livestock in rural communities; and (5) geographic underrepresentation of research progress in different provinces within the country. The study recommended improving geographic coverage of literature and inclusion of non-ruminants exposed to different climatic shocks. It is further advised that to gain effective responses to climate change impacts, mitigation strategies should be context-specific and holistic to improve livestock production in rural farming communities.

This study explored the perceptions and willingness of farmers in vulnerable communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, to tackle drought-related issues in their communally preserved cattle herds. This research utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data from interviews and surveys with 250 farmers from 10 villages in the area. The findings indicate that farmers are aware of the impact of drought on their cattle herds and livelihoods but face several challenges in mitigating its effects. These challenges include limited access to water and grazing land, lack of infrastructure, and insufficient support from the government. Despite these challenges, farmers display high resilience and adaptability, using various strategies to cope with drought, such as destocking, shifting to alternative livelihoods, and seeking support from their social networks. Moreover, the study reveals that farmers are willing to collaborate with other stakeholders to address drought-related issues and are receptive to interventions that can enhance their adaptive capacity. The study concludes that addressing the root causes of drought-related issues requires a multi-stakeholder approach that engages farmers as key partners in designing and implementing sustainable solutions.

Heat stress poses a significant challenge in communal feedlot systems, affecting cattle welfare and productivity. This study evaluated the impact of shade and water-cooling interventions on thermophysiological stress reduction and growth performance in 60 cattle from communal feedlots. Physiological indicators (rectal temperature, skin temperature, respiration rate) along growth metrics (feed intake, average daily gain [ADG]) were analyzed using regression and principal component analysis (PCA) to identify key drivers of performance. The results showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in rectal temperature, respiration rate, and skin temperature in cattle subjected to shade and water cooling compared to the control group. Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) values frequently exceeded the heat stress threshold of 72, with peak mid-day values surpassing 80, indicating severe thermal stress. Cattle in the treated groups experienced lower THI values, reduced panting scores, and improved homeostasis under high thermal loads. Breed-specific differences were evident, with Bos indicus cattle (Nguni) maintaining lower physiological stress indicators than Bos taurus (Bonsmara), highlighting superior heat tolerance. Growth performance, measured by average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), significantly improved in the treated groups, with ADG increasing by 18% and FCR improving by 12% relative to the control. Blood metabolite analysis revealed lower cortisol levels (p < 0.05) and improved electrolyte balance in the cooled groups, indicating reduced chronic stress and better metabolic function. Behavioral observations, recorded at 10-min intervals every 30 min, showed increased resting time and reduced panting frequency in cooled cattle, confirming enhanced thermal comfort. These findings underscore the importance of integrating cooling interventions into cattle management strategies to improve productivity and welfare in heat-stressed environments.