Herding for Health (H4H) is essentially about changing cultural practices from multiple small and largely unattended cattle herds to bigger, collectively managed herds that are healthier, more productive and safe from wildlife. In 2023, our communal cattle herding programme has increased by nearly a third from the number of enrolled cattle in the previous year. Currently we have 16 herders who are supported by village volunteers to herd 710 cattle across four herds in the Habu rangelands. The scouts work tirelessl to keep the cattle safe from predation, disease and stock theft while moving the animals strategically in an effort to restore Habu’s degraded rangelands.

Two measurable positive impacts are 1) a significant decrease in losses and 2) a reduction of retaliatory killing of predators by farmers.

As a result of this success, we have gained the support of government via approved compliance protocols for our herding me. Following these protocols has allowed us to, for the first time in Botswana, produce beef free of Foot and Mouth Disease that is also managed in a ‘wildlife friendly’ manner. This has helped farmers reach new markets outside of what has previously been designated a trade restricted area due to the disease. It has also garnered interest from consumer conscientious clientele of the safari industries operating in the neighboring wildlife management areas of the Okavango Delta. Help us move this programme forward faster by asking for ‘Wildlife Friendly Beef’ next time you are on safari in Botswana!