Livestock Disease Management and Food Safety Brief

The subsector provides employment opportunities to 66% of the economically active population and contributes to the national gross domestic product (GDP). Nepal has an estimated 7.27 million cattle, 5.24 million buffaloes, 9.7 million goats, 0.8 million sheep, 50 million poultry, and 0.37 million ducks. The country has one of the highest ratios of livestock to humans in Asia, with 5.8 heads of livestock and poultry per household. The Government of Nepal has recognized the importance of the livestock subsector and has formed a separate Ministry of Livestock and Poultry Development (MLPD) to prioritize its activities. The MLPD is responsible for promoting, administering, and coordinating livestock activities throughout the country. The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) executes its plans and programs through four directorates, five regional directorates, and 75 district livestock services offices (DLSOs), which include 359 livestock service centers and 640 livestock subservices at each sub-district level. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a major animal disease in Nepal, causing heavy economic losses for farmers and communities. The disease is endemic in the country and has been reported in all 75 districts. The FMD virus has seven immunologically distinct serotypes, with serotype O being the most predominant. The disease is more prevalent in the mid Hills region and the southern Terai, where animal movement patterns and common grazing and watering places contribute to its spread. The national strategy for FMD control and eradication involves establishing treatment zones based on levels of disease endemicity and implementing mass phased vaccination campaigns in high endemic zones. Mastitis is another endemic disease in Nepal, causing heavy economic losses in dairy cattle. The disease is mainly reported in cattle, buffaloes, and goats, and is attributed to poor farm sanitation and unhygienic milking practices. The prevalence rate of mastitis in buffaloes has been found to be 37.5% in some farms, while the rate of clinical mastitis has been reported to be 17.1% in Murrah cross breeds and 8.8% in local breeds. The disease is a significant public health concern, as it can be transmitted to humans through contaminated milk. Bovine tuberculosis is also an endemic disease in Nepal, posing a threat to livestock and public health. The overall prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in buffaloes and cattle has been found to be 9.08% and 5.78%, respectively. The disease is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans, and is a significant public health concern. The Government of Nepal has implemented measures to control and eradicate the disease, including vaccination and testing programs. The Directorate of Animal Health's (DoAH's) Veterinary Epidemiology Center has analyzed monthly epidemiological reports from 2000 to 2009 and has ranked FMD as the number one major infectious and invasive disease in Nepal. The national strategy for FMD control and eradication involves establishing treatment zones based on levels of disease endemicity and implementing mass phased vaccination campaigns in high endemic zones. The Government of Nepal has also implemented measures to control and eradicate bovine tuberculosis, including vaccination and testing programs.