Maintaining traditional values and looking for novel uses assure equines' survival as a species

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundRoutine tasks performed by equids have been taken over by motorised transportation and agricultural mechanisation services, and both are rapidly expanding in developing nations. For instance, in developing nations, the length of all‐season roads annually has increased by 0.2% and the number of vehicles by 15% to 17%. Consequently, rural agriculture no longer regularly recruits equines.ObjectivesStrategies need to be developed to safeguard the use values of equids to guarantee their crucial role in the daily lives of rural people.Study designThe report has compiled the findings of field‐based exploratory qualitative study.MethodsThis study involved in‐depth interviews of 10 knowledgeable informants and analysed FAOSTAT historical dataset to assess the population status of equids.ResultsTo encourage people to use equids for companionship and recreational purposes, the hobbies of equine farming need to be promoted in both urban and rural areas. Equestrian riding and racing can be beneficial for festivals and sociocultural events, like weddings, funerals and competitions. It is illogical to disregard the transportation, ploughing and crop harvesting roles of equids. It is worthwhile to include donkeys and mules in the well‐established sports of horseracing and riding. Bovines can produce high‐quality carcasses when equids are used as work animals. Equine manure is rich in nutrients compared with ruminant manure. Equid meat is occasionally consumed and exported. Equid hides can be used to produce leather goods and parchments. It is essential to investigate the medicinal value of equine products. By clipping hair from horses' tails and manes, handicraft people can make whiskers and cords of musical instruments. Equids are highly sought‐after in landscape management and scientific studies. In rangelands, horses can assist in monitoring grazing and browsing livestock. In open urban public spaces and rural areas, equines can graze on communal grazing lands as stray animals and a population of feral animals may eventually emerge.Main limitationsThis is an exploratory qualitative study and it needs to be supported by extensive studies involving formal surveys.ConclusionTo ensure the continued existence of equids, it is worthwhile to explore the derived use values, enhance the existing ones and alleviate their major production constraints.