Status of Animal Health and Role of Livestock Farming in Poverty Reduction in Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan with almost 44% of the country land. Most of the area is rangeland and only 5-7 % area is hardly cultivable and more than 70% population depend upon livestock for their livelihood. Animal rearing is the centuries old occupation of farmers. The province produces 45% and 22% sheep and goat population of the country. Different diseases such as, Enterotoxaemia, sheep and goat Pox, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Anthrax and Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Peste des Petits ruminants and Foot and Mouth disease are the most common infections of small and large ruminants. Vaccination covers hardly 10% of the population. The role of livestock in poverty reduction inevitable.  Although animal health care facilities are available throughout the province but still it needs to be expanded and improved. Establishment of new Vaccine production centers in the province may be helpful to cover the vaccination of animals.