Livestock Services

Welcome to the Department of Livestock Services!!

The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) is responsible for development of conducive policy framework and technical support for improved livestock production, and provision of specialized livestock husbandry services.

VISION

The Department of Livestock Services will provide a conducive, sustainable environment for optimum production of livestock and livestock products for economic advancement of the farming community.

 

MISSION
The Department of Livestock Services strives to formulate and implement innovative policies, programmers, regulatory framework and provide quality services to our clients in order to achieve self-reliance and increased income for livestock producers through animal husbandry and veterinary services while protecting the underlying natural environment and resource base.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

1. To formulate livestock production & policies in order to accommodate the charging environment.
2. To promote intensive & extensive livestock production consistent with terrain and other land uses in order to achieve economic advancement of the farming community.
3. To promote improvement of genetic characteristics in livestock in order to increase production and productivity.
4. To initiate & offer assistance to the relevant institutions in the conduction of livestock oriented research in order to establish solutions to identify & potential problems.
5. To promote proper management of livestock for increased production and productivity.
6. To improve veterinary public health services to ensure that the livestock products are fit for human consumption.
7. To monitor imports & exports of livestock, livestock products, genetic material & biological for diseases control & breeding purposes.
8. To develop veterinary services policy consistent with International standards to give direction in the implementation of these services.
9. To improve the control of animal diseases of trade, economic and public health importance in order to prevent epidemics and promote local and international trade of livestock and livestock products.
10. To promote private sector development through provision of appropriate livestock policies infrastructure, legal framework & relevant adequate information for food security & economic development.
11. To ensure implementation of livestock registration & identification for control of livestock policies infrastructure, legal framework & relevant adequate information for food security & economic development.
12. To ensure overall implementation of livestock activities in order to facilitate accomplishment of the mission.

 

THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF LIVESTOCK

Contribution to Growth Domestic Product
Contribution to Employment Creation
Contribution to Food Security
Contribution to Livelihoods
Contribution to Poverty Reduction

The Department is structured as follows:

i) ANIMAL PRODUCTION DIVISION (APD)

The Animal Production Division is divided into six sections namely; Fisheries, Small stock, cattle, poultry, Equines, and Piggery. Formulation and implementation of programs is the responsibility of each section. APD has the following core functions;
• Training farmers on good management practices, transfer of technologies and livestock production systems.
• facilitating and implementing livestock related programs.
• Encouraging establishment of livestock producer associations
• Facilitating improvement of the national cattle herd using AI (Artificial Insemination)
• Facilitating procurement of good quality breeding and replacement stock
• Characterization and conservation of indigenous livestock breeds

ii) ANIMAL HEALTH DIVISION (AHD)

The Animal Health Division is divided into four sections namely; Epidemiology, Laboratory Diagnostics, Theriogenology, and Veterinary Public Health. The AHD deals with livestock disease control (prevention and eradication),

STAFF COMPLEMENT

DLS has a cadre of technical and professional staff including veterinary and animal production personnel. The divisions and sections are headed by professionals in their respective fields. Beside technical and professional staff, there is auxiliary staff including accounts, human resources, stores personnel and office assistants. The mandate in the districts of DLS is carried out by the department of Field Services (DFS) through the District Agricultural Officers((DAOs), District Animal Production Officers (DAPOs), Area Technical Officers (ATOs) and Agricultural Assistants (AAs).

 

 

Equine Section

 

ANIMAL HEALTH DIVISION KEY ACTIVITIES

Theriology section

– Reproductive management activities through artificial insemination and infertility problems attended.
– Performing pregnancy diagnosis tests on all the inseminated cows.

Epidemiology section
– Annual Animal disease surveillance for FMD and PPR status for self declaration through collections of blood samples.
– Animal disease control through vaccinations and treating affected animals.
– Production and submission of Local and International reports.
– Preparation of Sectional and departmental budget.

Laboratory section
– Perform laboratory tests and diagnosis.
– Perform post mortem on all carcass submitted.
– Conduct subclinical animal disease surveillance.

 

Veterinary public health
– Control of exports and imports of livestock and livestock products.
– Provision of animal health services..
– Monitoring and inspection of animal food establishments.
– Training of food handlers and officers.
– Introduction of sanitary standards of slaughter slabs.
– Control of zoonotic diseases

OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN LIVESTOCK SERVICES

The DLS does not operate in isolation as it collaborates directly with the following sister departments outside MAFS:
1. Department of Marketing of Ministry of Small Businesses, Cooperatives and Marketing which is responsible for marketing of livestock and livestock
Products.
2. Department of Range Resources of Ministry of Forestry and Land
Reclamation which is responsible for range management.
3. Livestock Registration of Ministry of Home Affairs which is responsible for
livestock marking and registration.

MEMBERSHIP TO REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

DLS is a focal point for the following regional and international organizations of
which the Kingdom of Lesotho is a member:

1. SADC-Livestock Technical Committee (LTC)
2. SADC-Fisheries Technical Committee (FTC)
3. African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
4. World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
5. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
6. World Trade Organization (WTO)