To develop the livestock sector and to control the spread of diseases, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) will establish a livestock collection centre and a veterinary quarantine facility in Shinas.

MoAF has called for investments for establishing the facilties in Al Aqar area in the wilayat of Shinas in North Batinah governorate. The ministry stated that the project aims to develop the livestock sector and control the spread of disease and maintain public health.

As per the Agricultural Census 2018, the livestock population is above 3.5mn, of which 397,000 are cows, 2,302,000 goats, 605,000 sheep and 268,000 camels.

MoAF also confirmed that 2.2mn animals were treated in the sultanate in 2018, an increase of 4.8 per cent compared to 2017. It confirmed that 2.1mn animals were treated in the sultanate in 2017, a decrease of 9.6 per cent compared to 2016. There was also a 30 per cent rise in the number of animals vaccinated in 2017, reaching 3.5mn compared to 2.7mn in 2016.

The ministry also said that 43.1 per cent of the vaccinated animals in 2017 had vaccines against enterotoxaemia and 28.8 per cent against Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also known as goat plague.