One of the main components of agricultural development in East Timor is improvement in livestock production. This paper begins with a description of the characteristics of each district across the country. Small animal production appears to have recovered. Chickens, pigs and goats are now seen again in rural and urban areas. Buffalo and Bali cattle are being imported under the World Bank-sponsored Agricultural Rehabilitation Project (ARP), and others have been brought from hiding places in the mountains, but total numbers of large animals remain below pre-1999 levels. This paper also examines the importance of native pastures on the economic value of a potential primary cattle industry. Combined with better management, animal production and better grazing will enable farmers to market their produce in the future. As well as assessing the role of ruminants and non-ruminants for animal production, the commitment of significant resources to research and development and provision of training and extension to fanners in the villages is strongly recommended to develop the livestock industry. An important feature of this recommendation is the livestock regional mapping that draws on several districts to specialise in certain animals as the centre of production.
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