Small Stock Management and the Goat Naming System of the Pastoral Gabra

Abstract

The present paper describes and analyzes the pastoral Gabra herding technique for the small stock, sheep and goats, which chiefly support their subsistence diet. Although the sheep and goats utilize different plants for their food supply, the Gabra herd them in one flock. This paper demonstrates that the Gabra's mixed-flock herding technique is effective and well adapted to their territory's natural environment. This paper also describes the Gabra goat-naming system. The Gabra classify the goats by matrilineal groups and call each goat by its matrilineal group's name, each female goat is given an individual descriptive name. This unique naming system facilitates the exchange of information about the goats and the smooth management of milking.