The international meeting of livestock experts is in Samoa this week.
Over 100 participants from the Pacific as well as from the Caribbean, Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.
The meeting will address several current livestock issues including the avian influenza, border biosecurity, livestock production, food security and safety, animal welfare, veterinary education and even wildlife.
Figures obtained from various studies showed that in 2005 there were close to 47 million livestock in the 22 SPC Pacific Island countries and territories.
In addition to technical presentations, the participants will visit livestock development projects in Samoa including that of the tropical meat sheep that was developed in Fiji.
The rising costs of fuel and imported food, coupled with the growing threat of disease introduction and the challenges of climate change, make this meeting a timely one.
