M.H. Al-Khamees
Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and
Water, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Department of Animal Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture and Water was established in 1976 to maintain animal resources, establish effective programmes for their development and improve production using modern scientific methods, a comprehensive veterinary service and the results of applied research. The ministry was also very keen to encourage the private sector to invest in animal production as an important source of increased national income and to establish a high level of self-sufficiency and food security.
The animal resources sector has developed within the context of rapid overall development. Advanced animal production projects, using many of the most modern techniques, now exist side by side with traditional methods of animal husbandry and production. There has been marked progress, particularly in the field of milk, meat and poultry production. Table 1 shows the estimated numbers of ruminant animals in 1995, in nomadic flocks and herds and in farms and specialised projects. The population of chickens in 1994 was 267 million. Research has been conducted to evaluate local livestock breeds and there are plans to improve their genetic characteristics and productive potential.
There are national campaigns for the control or eradication of infectious and contagious diseases, and several veterinary vaccines are produced locally in a centre operated by the Department of Animal Resources. The further development of veterinary clinics and services is planned, as well as new procedures and regulations for registering and handling veterinary medicines.
Organised livestock research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates back more than 30 years. The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) provides financial support for national research programmes. The main institutions now involved in research in the Ministry of Agriculture and Water are the Departments of Agricultural Research and of Animal Resources, the National Centre for Agricultural and Water Research in Riyadh, and the Range Development and Animal Resources Research Centre in Al Jouf. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water also has links with some regional centres.
Table 1. Estimated animal populations in Saudi Arabia in 1995
| Species | Specialised projects and traditional farms | Nomadic | Total |
| Cattle | 249,000 | 19,000 | 268,000 |
| Sheep | 7,752,000 | 2,778,000 | 10,530,000 |
| Goats | 4,373,000 | 1,767,000 | 6,140,000 |
| Camels | 421,000 | 359,000 | 780,000 |
| Total | 12,795,000 | 4,923,000 | 17,718,000 |
Research in the universities takes place in the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, King Saudi University, Riyadh; in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa; and in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, King Saud University, Qssim.
Disease is a major factor limiting animal productivity in Saudi Arabia. The following topics have high priority for research:
- studies of the epidemiology and control of endemic infectious diseases, including haemorrhagic septicaemia, clostridial enterotoxaemia, Newcastle disease and foot-and-mouth disease
- major zoonotic diseases, including brucellosis in camels, and evaluation of plans for eradication or control
- causes of abortion in sheep in different areas
- copper and selenium deficiency in pasture plants and their effect on sheep, goats and camels
- serological survey of tick-borne diseases of domestic animals and methods of control
- identification of bacterial agents causing multiple abscesses in camels, antibiotic treatment and vaccination trials.
- evaluation of current livestock feeding systems and manufacture of compound feeds
- use and evaluation of embryo transfer techniques in sheep
- improvement of productivity of local camel breeds
- machine milking for camels
- genetic improvement of local sheep and goat breeds
- improvement of natural pastures and grazing systems.
