Assessment of current livestock situation in Albania, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs - Y. Biçoku

Y. Biçoku, Director Animal Production Department
Ministry of Agriculture, Tirana, Albania

Introduction

During the last two years that have elapsed of the "Task Force on Livestock Production in Eastern Europe", the changes in agriculture and livestock in Albania have followed a positive trend, as a result of the progress of the privatization of the economy.

Therefore 98% of land is private and 80 % of the land ownership certificates have been distributed. The law on land marketing has been endorsed, and in December 1995 that on handing over to private owners the land of the former agriculture enterprises (given so far for use to their former employees). Livestock is 100% privatized (with the exception of 200 cows, 35 bulls and 1000 head of small ruminants, which are in the stations of the Animal Husbandry Research Institute for breeding purposes).

The importance of livestock sector

Agriculture represents 55% of total GDP and Livestock 50% of the Agricultural GDP.

In the years 1994 - 1995 the number of head, as well as the productivity and consequently milk and meat production have been increasing. This is shown in the table hereunder:

Table 1. Number of head and production (1990 - 1995), in thousands:

* The figures of the year 1994 in comparison with 1993 have changed much as a consequence of more accurate statistics, because in their statements farmers have not declared everything, because they were afraid of taxes, although it is made clear to them that there will be no taxes on livestock. The same thing should be said about the differences observed between 1995 and 1994.

** The figures for 1995 are forecast.

As can be seen from the above figures the number of head increased more than the productivity, because of the lack of concentrate is lacking. Small ruminants are kept grazing throughout the year, cattle are mainly fed dry alfa - alfa in winter and fresh alfa - alfa in the other period, while pigs are fed mostly with maize and wheat bran. This explains the high cost of concentrate in comparison with milk and meat: practically: 1 kg of concentrate costs 0.27 - 0.32 $, 1 kg of milk 0.27 - 0.35 $, and 1 kg of meat 2.5 - 3.4 $.

Breed improvement

We can say first of all that in cattle and pigs it is difficult to consider the local breeds, while in goats 100% of the population are local breeds and in sheep some of them are also local. In cattle the first imports have started in the year 1928 with the breeds ("Jersey" and "Black & White" from Holland and Germany), while during the period 1929 - 1969 the herd consisted of a mixture of breeds. The extensive use of artificial insemination played an important role in breeds improvement and in the "extinction of local breeds".

Until 1990 A.I. covered 65% of the herd whereas to the rest natural mating with bulls of the aforementioned breeds was applied.

As regards pigs the main breed has been the "Large White" and natural mating was used; only in some complexes "Hampshire", "Duroc" and others were introduced in the 80’s.

In respect of sheep during the years 50/60’s there were many imports of wool breeds like "Tsigaja" and "Merinos". However in the north-eastern and south-eastern regions of the country the local breeds were kept. As regards goats, there was no introduction of new breeds.

In September 1992, with the privatization of livestock, the law for "The Animal Husbandry Service", was passed and breeding activities came under the Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock in the Ministry of Agriculture and the Research Institute of Animal Husbandry. At present, this institute raises bulls of the Holstein, Jersey and Grounfi breeds. From this institute semen of the Tarine and Simmental is also available. All the semen is distribute by one centre only. At present, because of prevailing managerial and environmental conditions isolate breeding units are used, whereas in the middle-term future breeding stock of large units will be used. A project with the Italian Government will serve this purpose. It will make it possible to service 60 to 70% of the cows through A.I., instead of 30% of present (further to the privatization of agriculture and livestock, it fell from 65% to 20%). It will also lay the foundations for the herd-book which does not exist.

For sheep and goats, its is thought that in the future, local breeds will be kept and will be a subject of studies. A project proposal has been submitted to FAO for support of such investigation, as up to know no study has been carried out in this respect. Sheep are intercrossing with wool breeds and breeders will be encouraged to start crossbreeding with meat and dairy breeds: on the basis of present prices, one kilo of wool costs as much as 2 to 3 kilos of milk whereas, prior to 1990 the ratio, in favor of wool was 1:20.

As regards pigs, farmers like Large White breed, because the farming regions in the northern part of the country are fond of fatty meat. The large production centres which have started operating again are importing animals from abroad. Putting these centres and feed concentrate manufacturing plants in full production will make it possible for a number of farmers to be supplied with piglets and to set up small fattening units with a few heard or perhaps a few tens.