The animal husbandry section is located at the Research and Development Centre, Government Farm, Ghammieri. Its main objective is to offer extension service to local farmers and producers and to carry out trials regarding management, housing and nutrition to animals, and to convey recent findings and modern technologies to the local animal breeders.

Extension and advisory services

There are a number of officers within the animal husbandry section which are engaged in advisory and extension services. The areas covered include:
· Dairy production (cattle, sheep and goats),
· Forage production,
· Swine production,
· Poultry production (layers and broilers) and
· Rabbit production.

Services offered which are free of charge include on-farm visits and advices. Currently the section is focusing its main efforts in delivering advisory services related to farm-waste management and to the lowering of the total bacterial counts (improvement in hygiene) of milk.

The animal husbandry section helps also in the formation and set-up of producers organizations such as the recently formed Cheeselet Producers Association and the Rabbit Breeders Society.

Research and development
Experimental trials which are carried out by the Animal Husbandry Section are generally carried out at the Ghammieri Government Farm. There are various animal breeding sections at Ghammieri mainly the Cattle, Goats, Rabbits and Poultry sections. The roles of these sections are to serve as a model farm for local farmers and producers. Various trials are carried out in these sections, which are mainly associated with the better management of farm animals, nutrition, and waste management. Improvement of animal housing and the introduction of new technologies are carried out from time to time, and their respective results conveyed to the local breeders through extension services.

The animal husbandry section is also responsible for forage and fodder trials. The Section introduced various types of new forages which can be grown in summer on irrigated land and which can be fed to ruminants. These include Italian Rye Grass and Sorghum, which are nowadays being grown by many dairy producers, especially in Gozo.

Besides research and extension service, officers at the animal husbandry section are also involved in other work related to agriculture. The main important area concerned is farm-waste management and environmental awareness. Officers are also continuously consulted by the Planning Authority regarding any agricultural applications submitted by farmers, breeders and producers.

The animal husbandry section at Ghammieri also houses other types of animals which are not associated with the farming activity in Malta. These animals which include ponies, llamas, deers, fancy poultry (pigeons, peacocks, pheasants etc), ostriches, rhea and a Maltese ox, are being kept for display purposes and are an attraction to school children.

The contact person at the Animal Husbandry Sections is:

Mr. Noel Azzopardi, Scientific Officer
tel:  25904125; fax: 25904206; e-mail: noel.azzopardi@gov.mt