Share-herd

Another goal was to raise the general level of herd productivity to that of herder-owned and managed herds from the lower level of productivity in herds containing a significant number of share-herded animals.

She share-herds two sheep from her aunt's son.

Little et al. (2006) reported that households who lost animals during drought remained vulnerable and poor six years after the drought in Ethiopia, and poor families had to borrow animals (often on a share-herd basis) to restock their herds after the 1998-2000 drought.

At a time when the very poor were desperate to recover their few animal assets they also took on animals from wealthier households on a share-herd basis (that is, a contract where in exchange for herding the poor share in herd offspring usually on a 50/50 basis), permitting the best off households to avoid labour and feed costs while reaping gains in herd growth.