Methods and data needs to estimate the economic (market) value of livestock at different spatial scales

Assessing the economic value of livestock, e.g. cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and fish can offer information about their financial performance and economic importance at farm, national and global scale. Such information is needed for decision making about livestock finance, investment, and strategic development. The aim of this study was to provide an overview about the key livestock valuation methods and associated data requirements. The study was conducted using a literature review. Five key livestock valuation methods were identified and described which include a) historical costs, b) net current market value, c) replacement costs, d) net present value, and e) cost of production. The findings of this study may be of interest for livestock scientists, veterinarians, policy makers and other stakeholders who aim to assess the economic value of livestock herds. The outcomes of this study were important for the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme to identify methods for the estimation of the economic value of livestock at the global scale and for the Ethiopia and Indonesia case studies.