The Impact of Climate Change on Goat and Sheep Farming Systems in Southern Africa: A Narrative Review

Smallholder goat and sheep farming is a critical component of rural livelihoods in Southern Africa. Climate change has, however, aggravated the situations of drought, heat stress, and disease burdens, which threaten the productivity of small ruminants. The present review aimed to determine the multidimensional effects of climate change on goat and sheep farming in Southern Africa, to analyze existing adaptation measures, and identify policy measures to build resilience. The current review used Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed to cover peer-reviewed articles and grey literature published between 2014 and 2025. Based on the inclusion criteria, 102 articles were initially screened, and 51 articles were considered for the narrative review. The review focused on studies conducted in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. The results indicated a strong relationship between climate variability and decreased ruminant productivity, driven by pasture degradation, water shortages, heat stress, and limited access to veterinary services in Southern African countries. Additionally, the results showed that adaptive strategies include the use of indigenous breeds, drought-resistant feeding, and ethnoveterinary practices to cope with climate variations. The present narrative review highlights the importance of adaptive strategies and integrated policies in Southern African countries for sustaining the development of small ruminant farming amid climate variability.