A critical narrative review of the welfare-productivity nexus in Ethiopia’s draft animal systems

Draft animal power constitutes the indispensable engine of Ethiopia’s agrarian economy, providing the primary traction for crop cultivation and rural transport for millions of rural smallholder households, yet this vital draft power is undercut by the animal’s plight. This critical narrative review examines the paradox at the heart of this system: the cattle, equines, and camels that sustain livelihoods are systematically compromised by widespread welfare deficits. It synthesizes evidence identified through searches of databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts, and institutional repositories, complemented by relevant grey literature from 1993 to 2025. Traditional practices, pervasive health issues, inadequate nutrition, and poor harnessing collectively undermine animal well-being. Framed within welfare science, the analysis establishes these conditions as critical, plausibly causal constraints on work capacity, longevity, and economic output. Evidence demonstrates that pain, stress, and malnutrition suppress immune function, increase disease, and shorten productive lifespans, thereby destabilizing the food security and incomes of millions. The review further identifies a critical policy and research disconnect, given the sector’s economic centrality. Consequently, strategic interventions improved harnessing; greater veterinary access; better nutrition, and more humane handling are reframed as essential investments. Integrating welfare science with socio-economic reality, this review outlines pathways to transform these systems, advocating for integrated strategies that secure animal well-being to fully harness their power for Ethiopia’s agricultural resilience and development.