A recent study highlighted the significance of the livestock sector to the economies of certain Arab nations.
Arab world livestock consists of 48 million cow heads, 15 million sheep heads, 88 million goat heads, 3 million camel heads, and 12 million heads of mammals and poultry, Sudanese al-Ray al Aam daily reported. Compiled by the Arab Agriculture Development Organization, the study indicated that the contribution of this sector to the GDP of certain Arab states is substantial, and ranges between (a low of) 8 percent in Jordan to (a maximum of) 35 percent in Sudan. Some Arab nations are considered chief sources of livestock and of livestock products. Sudan, Somalia and Syria are the leaders in the Arab livestock world. according to the report, the livestock sector is responsible for between 36 to 38 percent of total Arab food exports.
Despite these figures, the findings suggested that a huge gap exists in livestock products, with consumption exceeding production in the Arab World. The researchers attributed this gap to archaic methods and technology used in this sector, as well as to the prevalence of diseases in certain nations.
