On the Stability of the Goat Herd in the Pastoral Samburu

Abstract

The domestic goat herds maintained by the Samburu, nomadic pastoralists living in northern Kenya, are observed from a socio-ecological point of view. This study attempts to examine the characteristics of the domestic goat herd and to discuss its origin. Firstly, the interaction between man and goats in day-trip herding is described, and it is conjectured that there is some kind of cohesiveness between individuals within the herd. This is confirmed by the observations of group oriented behavior; stray goats autonomously going back to the herd without human management. These observations show that primarily goats gather in herds and herders assist goats in gathering together. Secondly, two examples of inter-herd relations show that goats distinguish their own herd from another and have a tendency to keep in contact with their own herd. The herd is thus discernible during inter-herd encounters. Therefore it is concluded that the domestic goat herd is a sociologically stable unit, a discernible congregation with constant membership. The feral goats of Chichijima, however, does not form a stable group, and it is highly probable that the wild goat does not from one either. All these factors suggest and support the hypothesis that, the stable domestic goat herd was formed with the influence of man during the process of domestication.