Over 30,000 animals in Dhofar treated at clinics, situation stable

Muscat: More than 30,000 animals in Dhofar have been treated in veterinary clinics, while 4,042 of the livestock were treated for infectious diseases.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries confirmed that the epidemiological situation of animal diseases was stable in the Sultanate in general and in Dhofar Governorate in particular.
The Ministry pointed out that the increase in epidemic diseases in Dhofar Governorate last year due to environmental changes (Mekunu) contributed to the spread of vector pathogens.
However, it confirmed that the situation is stable due to the existence of integrated legislative policies of veterinary services and basic veterinary services, such as quarries, laboratories, fixed and mobile veterinary clinics.
The Ministry is currently implementing projects that are important in enhancing the role of prevention and protection of livestock in Dhofar, which includes the implementation of the National Immunisation Project for goats, sheep and cows; providing therapeutic services through veterinary clinics for all livestock herds; and implementing the emergency plan, such as during climatic conditions.
The data provided by the ministry revealed that the epidemiological and infectious diseases spread in Dhofar Governorate during the year 2018 were foot and mouth disease, dermatitis and three-day fever. The various veterinary clinics in the governorate treated 4,042 of the infected cases, while 387 died.
Statistics issued by the Ministry for 2018 indicate that the number of treated animals in the veterinary clinics in Dhofar Governorate reached 31,6795, while the number of treated animals in 2017 was some 33,6709.
Immunisation services
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries also covers treatment and immunisation services through mobile veterinary clinics in areas where there are no fixed veterinary clinics through the annual immunisation and treatment campaigns in wilayat Muqashin and Al Mazyouna and weekly visits to the Mazyouna mobile clinic to provide animal curative services, immunisation and guidelines on how to use veterinary drugs.
The ministry emphasises the continuation of its efforts to develop livestock in the Sultanate in order to achieve the requirements of food security and sustainable development.
The Ministry takes all necessary measures to provide and develop veterinary preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic services for livestock.
It also urges the adoption of guidelines and healthy methods and adherence to all preventive measures when dealing with all animals and their products.
The total number of livestock in the Sultanate in 2018 amounted to 3,572,560, according to the Ministry’s statistics of growth rates, in line with global growth rates of livestock.