Climate variability alters the niche of forage species and may modify animal feed resources. Increasing patterns of temperature and decreasing rainfall trends is a global phenomenon, pastoral and agro-pastoral communities who rely on natural resources for livestock production rigorously feel its adverse effects. The climate variability alters plants' growth potential, deterioration of livestock feed resources 56 and livestock's physiological response. Loss of animals is associated with drought and the cumulative impacts of rainfall and surface temperature variability. According to Wako, Tadesse, and Angassa (2017), a significantly higher number of cattle and sheep death were recorded during drought condition, while the death of goat and camel were eventually low. The vulnerability of livestock to climate variability varies across species based on their adaptive mechanism ( Fereja, 2016). The country necessarily needs to switch to a new sustainable development strategy to cope with and adapt to the changing climatic condition ( Anita, Dominic, & Neil, 2010 FDRE, 2011). The country is suffering from the impacts of climate change such as an increase in average surface temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, recurrent drought, El NiƱo southern oscillation (ENSO), floods and La Nina ( Melees & Samuel, 2017 Melkamu, 2017). In Ethiopia, climate variability and change has triggered frequent droughts, floods, heat waves, heavy rains, and strong winds ( FDRE, 2007). Climate change is threatening the productivity of agricultural land, by shortening growing periods and decreasing crop/pasture yields ( UNFCCC, 2007). Increasing frequency and intensity of droughts changes in water availability increasing patterns of temperature and rainfall variability, all are profoundly threatening livelihoods of drought-prone areas, and the existence of arid and semi-arid remote regions ( Palombi & Sessa, 2013 Ulrichs, Slater, & Costella, 2019). Climate extremes are having a significant impact on livestock productivity in Eastern and Western Africa. Livestock is the principal asset of the poor in most pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, though the sector is highly susceptible to extreme climatic events ( Fereja, 2016). Among the agricultural sub-sectors, livestock rearing supports the income and livelihood for about one-third of African populations and provides 30-50% of agricultural GDP ( AU-IBAR, 2016). The sector employs 70-90% of the total labour forces, supports about 50% of feed demands and 50% of the income of the households. Most Africans depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, which is the backbone of national economies for almost all countries in Africa. Therefore, extensive investigations are required to select and identify purpose-specific camel and goat strains for drought-prone areas. Poor attention is given to identify climate-smart/resilient livestock species and strains. Camel and goats are perceived as drought-resistant livestock species and cattle keepers shifting to have more camel and goat in response to prevailing drought in the study area. Nonetheless, the result indicated significantly higher (p<0.01) amounts of milk yield (3.32 litre/day) of dairying camel during dry periods than cattle and small ruminants. Significantly higher (p<0.01) cattle and small ruminants than camel per household died during the disastrous drought occurred in 2008//16. Rainfall Anomaly Index identifies 13 drought years over the past 32 years, of which 53.85% occurred between 2007- 2017. Similarly, the trend analysis of rainfall showed declining trends of annual (-4.7 mm/year), autumn (-4.5 mm) and winter (-0.54 mm). Majority of respondents perceived decreasing trends of rainfall and feed availability. The household survey result indicated increasing patterns of temperature (82.8%)and drought intensity (84.8%). Furthermore, climate data were obtained from the national meteorological agency, and climatic water balance was assessed. Data about pastoralist perception on climate change were collected from 198 randomly selected households using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study used a mixed research approach whereby quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from multiple sources to address the impacts of climate variability on livestock production and livelihood of pastoral-agro-pastoral communities of Guji zone. This study examines the perception of the pastoral community on climate change and performance, resilience and adaptive capacity of livestock under climatic stress in southeastern Ethiopia.
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