Mustafe A Mohamoud¹, Adil MA Salman²*and Ammar AH Ahmed3³

¹Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, East Africa University, Pontland, Somalia
²One Health Center, University of Bahri, Sudan
³Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Oman

*Corresponding Author: Adil MA Salman, One Health Center, University of Bahri, Sudan.

Received: December 01, 2025; Published: December 19, 2025

Abstract

Background: Livestock grading is a crucial determinant of market value and export suitability, yet limited information exists on the key factors influencing grading systems in Somalia.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the major factors affecting the grading of livestock intended for export and local consumption in Bosaso City, Somalia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in March and April 2021 on 150 animals, including camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. Data on sex, age, body condition, and conformation were collected and analyzed using the Chi-square test to determine associations with market price.

Results: Of the total animals examined, males represented 79.3% and females 20.7%. Based on age, 28.7% were young (<3 years), 52.0% adult (3-6 years), and 19.3% old (>6 years). The Chi-square test revealed significant associations between price and age (p = 0.032), body condition (p < 0.001), and body conformation (p < 0.001). Animals with good to excellent body condition and conformation achieved higher market prices, reflecting their desirability for export.

Conclusion: Body condition emerged as the most influential factor in livestock grading and valuation, followed by body conformation and age. The study underscores the need for improved feeding, management, and breeding practices to enhance the export quality and market competitiveness of Somali livestock.

Keywords: Livestock Grading; Body Condition; Animal Conformation; Export Market; Bosaso; Somalia

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Citation

Citation: Adil MA Salman., et al. “Determinants of Livestock Grading and Market Value for Export and Local Consumption in Bosaso, Somalia".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 10.1 (2026): 36-44.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Adil MA Salman., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.