Final answer:
Pastoral lifestyles vary based on the type of livestock, with camels being suited for arid regions, cattle for areas with more pasture, and small stock being widely managed. Challenges faced by pastoralists include climate change's impact on animal health and milk production, and pastoralism remains characterized by traditional patterns of gender and age-based labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences between cattle, camels, and small stock like sheep and goats significantly influence pastoral life due to their varying needs for water, food, and care. Camels, being highly adapted to arid conditions, require much less water than cattle, making them preferable in desert pastoralism. Small stock, such as sheep and goats, are easier to manage and can be more conducive to small-scale pastoralism, commonly cared for by women and children in these societies. The reliability of the milk source among these animals varies; camels provide a consistent source of high-quality milk even in harsh conditions, while cattle milk production can decrease during droughts. Conversely, small stock like goats provides less milk but often at higher frequencies.
The average number of animals a pastoral family possesses can vary widely based on geographical location, climate, and resources. Bedouin groups in different regions might specialize in one or two herd animals particularly suited to their environment. For example, in dryer regions, an average family might rely on a herd of camels, while in areas with more pasture, they might manage a mix of cattle, sheep, and goats. Contemporary pastoralists face challenges such as climate change, leading to malnutrition in herds and reduced milk production, which are different from the past but also adopt new strategies like small farming and trade to supplement their diet.
However, pastoralism continues to be defined by gender and age-based divisions of labor and necessitates mobility to ensure sustainable grazing. This lifestyle discourages the accumulation of property other than the animals themselves, which are often passed down from one generation to another as family assets.