Over 3mn livestock were vaccinated in 2020 as part of the National Project for Livestock Immunisation, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

The ministry’s veterinary team visited 250,000 breeders and vaccinated 3.04mn animals (goats, sheep, cows and camels) in all the wilayats of the sultanate.

Dr Shihab bin Abdul al Balushi, head of Preventive and Curative Services Department at the ministry, said, “Seventy vet facilities, 41 mobile veterinary clinics and one hospital in Salalah provide all preventive, curative, diagnostic and advisory services for animal breeders against diseases including intestinal poisoning, foot-and-mouth disease and rabies.”

According to Dr Balushi, the campaign aimed to immunise livestock, reduce infection and prevent common disease transmission between animals and human beings. The programme also aimed to provide vaccination to the largest number possible to protect herds from epidemics, including plague, smallpox and foot-and-mouth disease that cause great economic losses.

“The campaign also aimed to develop the livestock sector and ensure its sustainability and production capacity,” Dr Balushi said.

In 2019, some 2.5mn animals were vaccinated.

Last year, in Dhofar governorate, 506,528 animals were vaccinated, while 1,014,760 were immunised in North and South Batinah. In North and South Sharqiyah, 498,213 animals were immunised, 227,914 in Dhahirah,  259,314 in Dakhliyah, 132,896 in Musandam , 115,413 in Al Wusta, 97,922 in Muscat and 85,102 in Buraimi.