Insufficient Veterinary Service as a Major Constrants in Pastoral Area of Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

The pastoral population occupies a large area of Ethiopia mainly the arid and semi-arid lowlands that are characterized by high spatial and temporal variability in rainfall distribution and pattern. Pasture constitutes 63% of Ethiopia’s agricultural land area and Livestock and livestock products provide about 10% of Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings. Additionally, livestock are highly valuable to the nation as direct sources of consumption for the pastoral and agro-pastoral population, as sources of cash income and foreign currency for the nation and for provision of draught power for small-holders in the highland areas. The aim these reviews were to assess major constraints of livestock production and productivity in pastoral areas of Ethiopia with special attention to the role veterinary service in improving livelihood of pastoralists. Even though the livestock sub-sector contributes much to the national economy, its development is hampered by different constraints such as rampant animal diseases, poor nutrition, poor husbandry and marketing systems, poor infrastructure, and shortage of trained manpower. Specially, Livestock diseases have impacts that include loss of livestock and farm productivity, reduction of market opportunity, disturbance of human health and impairment of human welfare. Moreover, disease control activities may have negative impacts on improper use of chemicals and drugs. Therefore Veterinarians, researchers and other responsible governmental and non-governmental bodies have to assist the development of herd health strategies and the selections of possible interventions that will ultimately assist in poverty alleviation, by improving the health and productivity of the animals thus improve of livelihood of pastoralists and to enhance national development as general.

Keywords: pastoral, livestock, veterinary service, Ethiopia