Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Livestock (DOL)
The vision of the Department of Livestock is "that farmers possess productive livestock, put scientific management practices into use and tap the production potential to its optimum thereby making the country self sufficient in livestock products". This, therefore, calls for a gradual transition from subsistence to more market oriented livestock production systems.
The DoL operates within the broad framework of the programmes such as breed improvement, dairy development, health coverage, fodder development, sheep and fisheries development, establishment of animal husbandry cum farmers' training centres, research and extension development, human resources and infrastructure development. The DoL operates through its three major Divisions (Livestock Production, Livestock Health and Livestock Input Supply). Implementation activities occur through its twenty six service oriented central programmes (includes farms and laboratories) spread all over the country and the Districts (20) and Block level (202) livestock offices to facilitate livestock development enterprises at the farmers level and to meet the government objective of self-sufficiency in livestock products. Services include production and distribution (and sales) of inputs (breeding animals, pasture seeds, vaccines) and extension such as awareness programmes, artificial insemination and animal health coverage.
Conservation of the Last Himalayan Cattle Breed of Bhutan
