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JEDDAH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has organized a visit of New Zealand experts to Qassim, as part of the recently signed Saudi-New Zealand agreement targeting the genetic improvement of animal breeds, to raise the productivity of livestock sector and improve the quality of products.
Undersecretary of the ministry Dr. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al-Batshan said the project of genetic improvement of livestock in the Kingdom was launched by the ministry with a New Zealand company specialized in developing livestock to bring over New Zealand experts who have experience in developing similar projects in other countries around the world.
Al-Batshan noted that the ministry is seeking to increase the productivity of the livestock sector and achieve its sustainability, raise the efficiency of local livestock production, promote development and food security in the Kingdom, preserve the natural resources and reduce the operational costs, guaranteeing higher profits.
He said New Zealand experts have visited several production projects of sheep, goats, camels, cows, birds, toured a number of breeding farms of special sheep breeds in Qassim, including the Nejdi original breed, and conducted an external examination of these breeds for consideration.
The team visited some slaughterhouses and sheep, cow and camel markets, and had reviewed a number of rare sheep and goat breeds projects.
New Zealand experts will collaborate with Saudi experts on developing a plan to promote livestock breeds in the Kingdom, through modern techniques to correct the traditional practices that have led to lower productivity and higher costs.