ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces some aspects of Samoan culture which have a direct impact on understanding the role of cattle in Samoan culture and the role of Samoan culture in cattle development. First is the role of the family, encompassing in particular the socialisation of children and the parent-child relationship, which is vital to understanding the contribution of cattle to parents’ funerals. Together with the importance of status and the consequent competitive nature of Samoan society, the chapter also explains the origins of the stresses and social pressures involved, the emotional conflict and ambivalence, and the sometimes negative behaviour towards cattle such as stealing, as well as the enjoyment and satisfaction gained from the culture. An understanding of Samoan culture also explains the strategies farmers form in managing their herd, the decisions they make about them, and the balancing of social and material ambitions in a context of social change.
