Community-based versus commercial feedlots: a systematic review of their roles in promoting sustainable and climate-resilient livestock production in Southern Africa

Livestock production systems in Southern Africa face mounting challenges from climate change, land degradation, and feed scarcity, threatening both productivity and rural livelihoods. This systematic review compares community-based feedlots (CBFs) and commercial feedlots to evaluate their respective contributions to sustainable and climate-resilient livestock production. A total of 42 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024 across eight Southern African countries were analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The synthesis examines differences in productivity performance, environmental outcomes, socio-economic benefits, and institutional resilience. Results indicate that commercial feedlots outperform CBFs in technical efficiency, achieving higher average daily gains (1.2–1.6 kg/day), superior feed conversion ratios (5.0–6.0 kg feed DM/kg weight gain), and faster market turnover. Conversely, CBFs demonstrate greater social inclusivity, local adaptability, and resilience to climatic stress, particularly in drought-prone communal areas. They promote community participation, create rural employment, empower women and youth, and reduce grazing pressure on communal rangelands during dry seasons. Both systems, however, face sustainability trade-offs: commercial feedlots are associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions and concentrated waste, while CBFs struggle with nutrient overloads and limited waste management capacity. Common constraints affecting both models include fluctuating feed costs, inadequate market access, weak infrastructure, and insufficient extension support. The review concludes that, combining the technical efficiency of commercial operations with the inclusivity and adaptive capacity of CBFs, represents a viable pathway toward climate-smart, sustainable, and socially equitable livestock systems in Southern Africa.