The software for dairy herd management, Kosovo Livestock Management System, was developed during an EU-funded project for the Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency (KFVA) on Food Safety and Livestock Breeding (FSLB). The animal breeding component was more appropriate for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs (MAFRD) and therefore project staff working on this component worked closely with staff of the Livestock Division of MAFRD, as well as Kosovo Association of Milk Producers (KAMP) and KFVA.

The Kosovo Livestock Management System uses a database developed through earlier projects to support the identification and registration (I&R) of livestock for individual identification, ownership, location and for control of their movements. The described software have been developed by staff of PAN Livestock Services Ltd through the company being included in the different consortia implementing EU funded projects.

The core database which has been handed over to Government of Kosovo contains comprehensive data on individually identified cattle, sheep, pigs and goats, their location in geo-referenced holdings and on their keepers. This data has been, and is, collected by veterinarians in municipalities throughout Kosovo contracted by the KFVA. They have access to the database through an internet portal and web application.

The I&R database was initially set up to enable traceability of livestock and their products to support livestock disease control and to protect animal health. Over time, other uses of the database have emerged and been exploited. For example, identifying animals whose keepers are eligible for subsidies for keeping them in their holdings and, when marketed, for being properly slaughtered in licensed abattoirs; monitoring milk production from dairy herds for quality and safety of milk produced, so producers can be eligible for higher payments from milk processors and subsidy payments from MAFRD based on the milk quality and safety.

The most recent use of the database to be introduced is the KLMS software which is used by Kosovo dairy farmers. Milk production has rapidly developed over the last two decades in Kosovo and locally produced milk is replacing that which had been supplied largely by imports. Individual dairy farms now contain increasing numbers of cattle which, to be productive and profitable, need high levels of management which can be optimised through use of the KLMS.

The I&R software has been shown to be useful, both to government and private individuals and has been sustainably developed through continued support during projects and continuing technical support when projects have not been available. This has been done through continuing activities of staff of KFVA and private veterinarians and support from PAN Livestock Services.

For further information on the InterTrace+, please click HERE

Media links - University provides expertise for EU veterinary projects (reading.ac.uk)

DCE project link -EU-DCE Project