Table 1 Major characteristics of the four study villages - Ankilibory, Efoetse, Andremba, and Miarintsoa

Altitude (m a.s.l.)

18

16

273

183

Mean annual precipitation (mm)¹

n/a

220.5^a

451.2^a

635.2^b

Population, total (2012)²

748

1,294

1,048

633

Households, total (2012)²

125

216

175

106

TLU*^{, 2}

743

1,713

1,032

641

Study herd sizes, cattle (n = 12)^c

36 ± 2.6

33 ± 3.9

32 ± 2.4

40 ± 3.0

Study herd sizes, goats (n = 11)^c

21 ± 3.3

41 ± 4.5

31 ± 4.7

43 ± 3.2

Village pasture area (km²)

102.8

79.8

144.8

109.9

Available water sources for livestock (thereof permanent)

7 (7)

6 (5)

6 (1)

2 (0)