Invited Review: Role of livestock in human nutrition and health for poverty reduction in developing countries1,2,3

Livestock keeping is critical for many livestock development issues related to these linkages. of the poor in the developing world, often contributing These beliefs limit the scope of intervention programs to multiple livelihood objectives and offering pathways to promote livestock and limit their potential contribu­ out of poverty. Livestock keeping also affects an indistion to poverty reduction. Recognition of the complexity pensable asset of the poor, their human capital, through of the role livestock play in household decision-making its impact on their own nutrition and health. This paper and of the opportunities foregone due to these miscon­ outlines the linkages between livestock keeping and ceptions can enhance the ability of livestock to contrib­ the physical well-being of the poor, and examines a ute to human well-being in the developing world. number of commonly held beliefs that misrepresent