Iran's Annual Livestock Production Surpasses 18 Million Tons

“Animal husbandry in Iran plays an important role in the agricultural sector and plays a key role in food security and the national economy. Nearly 30% of direct employment in the agricultural sector is belongs to this area, and over 18 million tons of livestock products are produced in Iran annually,” said Hassan Khamisabadi.

Noting that over one-third of the value added in the agricultural sector is related to animal husbandry, he said, “This means that animal husbandry is a driving force for domestic production and an important support for the country's exports and foreign exchange.”

“Despite challenges such as shortage of water resources, climate change, and dependence on imported inputs, a clear roadmap has been developed in the country's upstream documents, the main focus of which is the development of knowledge-based and climate-oriented animal husbandry,” Khamisabadi said.

“The use of modern technologies in breeding, nutrition, and health, and the application of smart farm management tools, can create a fundamental transformation in increasing the productivity and quality of livestock production,” he underlined.

In a relevant development in September, a knowledge-based company in Iran had utilized modern technologies to gain achievements in areas like manure processing for environmental protection, the use of genomics in light livestock breeding, and the formation of pure genetic nuclei of Roman and Blanche sheep.

In addition to producing strategic products like milk, red meat, and pistachios, the company has achieved an important position in the development of the country's light livestock industry by breeding superior livestock breeds including Roman sheep (INRA401) and Blanche Massif Central (BMC).

“At present, our company produces nearly 15,000 tons of cow's milk and 1,500 male calves and heifers annually. It also has 5,000 sheep of the Roman and Blanche breeds,” said Ayyoub Laki, the managing director of the company.

“In this company, we play an important role in improving the country's food security by utilizing a technical, innovative and cohesive team, through the production of strategic agricultural products, including red meat, milk and pistachios,” he added.

“Our company has also gained a key position in the upstream circles of the country's light livestock industry in the field of knowledge-based research by forming pure genetic nuclei of Roman INRA401 sheep and Blanche Massif Central BMC,” Laki said.

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