Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz., 2003, 22 (3), 899-908

 

Quantitative analysis of global veterinary human resources

V. Kouba

Former Chief, Animal Health Service, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Editor-in-Chief of the FAO/WHO/OIE Animal Health Yearbook, P.O. Box 516, 17000 Prague, Czech Republic

Summary

This analysis of global veterinary personnel was based on the available quantitative data reported by individual countries to international organisations. The analysis begins with a time series of globally reported numbers of veterinarians, starting in the year 1959 (140,391). In 2000 this number reached 691,379. Of this total, 27.77% of veterinarians were working as government officials, 15.38% were working in laboratories, universities and training institutions and 46.33% were working as private practitioners. The ratio of veterinarians to technicians was 1:0.63.

The global average of resources serviced by each veterinarian was as follows: 8,760 inhabitants; 189 km2 of land area and 20 km2 of arable land; 1,925 cattle, 242 buffaloes, 87 horses, 1,309 pigs, 1,533 sheep and 20,714 chickens; in abattoirs: 401 slaughtered cattle, 699 slaughtered sheep and 1,674 slaughtered pigs; the production of 336 tonnes (t) of meat, 708 t cow milk and 74 t hen eggs; in international trade: 12 cattle, 23 sheep, 22 pigs, 1 horse, 1,086 chickens, 33 t meat and meat products; 2,289 units of livestock (50 minutes of annual veterinary working time for each unit).

These averages were also analysed according to employment categories. The author also discusses factors influencing veterinary personnel analyses and planning.

Keywords

Global analysis – Global veterinary human resources – Human resources development – Information systems – Veterinarian – Veterinary human resources – Veterinary manpower – Veterinary service – Veterinary technician – Veterinary workload.

Introduction

The decisive factor in effective animal health services is the availability of veterinary personnel in terms of quantity and quality. A shortage of qualified veterinarians and support staff can be a serious obstacle to the control of animal diseases, as well as to the husbandry and trade in animals and animal products (3). Veterinary human resources are of primary importance for the successful application of strategies, measures and methods to promote, protect and restore animal health. They are the driving force behind the effective transfer of modern technology (based on the results of scientific research) and accumulated experience into general practice.

The purpose of this paper is to try to evaluate the global veterinary human resources situation, using the available data reported by individual countries to international organisations. The differences in the absolute numbers provided by individual countries were considerable, mainly due to their size. Therefore, this analysis concentrated on a global summary of veterinary personnel only. The average values of selected indicators for each veterinarian reflected, to a certain extent, the workload of veterinarians and the range of joint responsibility for the health of animal populations and the protection of human health from diseases transmissible from animals.

The global information system on veterinary human resources was established by H. Konigshofer in 1959, within the framework of a joint venture between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the OIE (World organisation for animal health). They produced the FAO/WHO/OIE Animal Health Yearbook (2), published by the FAO in Rome. In 1996, the OIE in Paris took over this role (8). In 1971, a study relating the number of veterinarians to the domestic animal population was conducted by Schoenherr and Meyer (9). In 1979, M. Braend (1) published an analysis of the number of veterinarians in relation to the following elements in 93 selected countries (without a global summary):

   livestock units (LUs)

   the human population

   milk and meat production

   gross national product.

This paper represents a continuation of the global analyses for the years 1977 and 1979 conducted by the author, using the available data from that period concerning the number of veterinarians (6, 7). However, this study does not examine further details about the types of employment of these veterinarians or relate these data to the size of the population concerned, or animal production and trade.

Materials and methods

This study employed the available data on veterinary human resources which have been published in relevant international documents. From the first year in which such data were collected, 1959, until the year 1982, veterinary personnel data gathered internationally were limited to the ‘total number of veterinarians’, published in the FAO/WHO/OIE Animal Health Yearbook (2). In 1983, the author, who was at that time the editor of the Yearbook, introduced additional criteria to reflect the employment structure of Veterinary Services more accurately. The total number of veterinarians was further divided into the following categories:

     government veterinary officials at central and local levels

     veterinarians working in laboratories, universities and training institutions

     veterinarians working as private practitioners

     other veterinarians.

Simultaneously, the human resources information system was complemented by including the total number of technical personnel, in particular: animal health assistants, animal health auxiliaries and food hygiene technicians. This same system is still in use today.

The data on veterinary personnel from 1996 onwards were collected as previously, by using a common OIE/FAO/WHO questionnaire, but published only by the OIE in World Animal Health (8). For the time series from 1959 to 2000, data on the global numbers of veterinarians were used from both yearbooks, i.e., the FAO/WHO/OIE Animal Health Yearbook published by the FAO and World Animal Health published by the OIE.

Not all reported data were complete or had been systematically updated. Some reports were only estimates. The summary data were significantly influenced by the countries with greater numbers of veterinarians, such as the United States of America, the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and the People’s Republic of China. Some countries sent more than one report (for example, Malaysia (for the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak), and the United Kingdom (for Great Britain, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland), thus increasing the number of reports. Other influences on these data included reports from newly emerging independent countries, due to the division of former geographic entities (e.g., the former USSR).

For more detailed analysis, the year 2000 was selected. However, not all countries sent relevant reports for that year. To obtain the most complete global data possible, the most recent reports available from those countries before the year 2000 were used to substitute the missing information. In addition, statistical publications from the FAO on animal populations, production and trade were used to calculate the different global average values (ratios) per veterinarian. These publications included the FAO Bulletin of Statistics (4) and the FAO Statistical Databases (FAOSTAT) (5).

 

The following criteria were selected for analysis:

   the number of inhabitants

   the total land area

   the number of animals

   the number of slaughtered animals

   the volume of livestock production

   the numbers/volume and value of internationally traded live animals and animal products.

Also included among these criteria were livestock units, calculated using the following conversion rates: cattle (not including dairy cows) = 0.5; dairy cow = 1; buffalo = 0.5; horse = 1; mule or ass = 0.5; camel = 1; pig = 0.2; sheep or goat = 0.1; chicken = 0.01; other poultry = 0.01.

In all, 26,897 data on veterinary human resources were processed; 3,353 of these came from the period 1959 to 1982, and 23,544 items from the period 1983 to 2000. The software employed for the data processing included EPIZOO, version 4.0, a software package developed by the author for analysing information on animal health and diseases (www.cbox.cz/vaclavkouba/).

Results

To trace the development of global veterinary human resources over the years, a time series was produced for the period from 1959 to 2000 (Table I). The series started in 1959, with 140,391 veterinarians reported, this figure reached 565,500 in 1995, and in 2000 there were 548,660 reported veterinarians in the world (this figure does not include the number of veterinarians in Russia or the People’s Republic of China, who did not submit reports that year). The trend expressed in the time series regression line was y = – 19575310 + 10047.53 x. A sharp decrease in the 1983 number was due to a fall in the number of reporting countries, and the sudden cessation of reports from the USSR. (Reports were received from the People’s Republic of China only between the years 1993 and 1995.) This decrease can also be attributed to changes in the information system used to collect these data and changes in veterinary employment structure (Fig. 1).

The growth in the reported numbers of private veterinarians was much faster than the relatively slow increase in the number of government veterinarians, despite the fact that greater government supervision and more rigorous preventive and disease control measures were required, due to the rapid increase in trade which facilitated the spread of infectious diseases as never before (Fig. 2).

The global number of veterinarians reported from 136 countries in the year 2000 (not including the estimated numbers from those countries which did not send reports for that year) reached 548,660, and the number of veterinary technicians was 344,533 (Table II). The ratio of veterinarians to technicians was 1:0.63.

The global number of veterinarians reported by individual countries for the year 2000 (including the most recently available figures for those countries which did not submit actual reports) reached 691,379 (Table III). This number is more realistic, as it includes virtually every country in the world. The reported number of veterinarians in government service was 192,020 (27.77%). The number of veterinarians employed by laboratories, universities and training institutions was 106,303 (15.38%), whereas the number of those in private practice was 320,346 (46.33%) (Fig. 3).

The global average numbers of inhabitants and the total land area per veterinarian, in the year 2000, were as follows:

   8,760 inhabitants

   3,713 people depending for their livelihood on agriculture

   1,907 people economically active in agriculture

   189 km2 of land

   20 km2 of arable land suitable for crop production

   2 km2 of land under permanent crop cultivation (Table IV).

The global average numbers of animals per veterinarian in the year 2000 were as follows:

   1,925 cattle

   242 buffaloes

   87 horses

   1,309 pigs

   1,533 sheep

   1,033 goats

   20,714 chickens (Table V).

Unfortunately, global data on companion animals, which form an important part of the workload for veterinarians in private practice, were not available.

The global average numbers of animals slaughtered in abattoirs during the year 2000 per veterinarian were as follows:

   401 cattle

   699 sheep

   284 goats

   1,674 pigs (Table VI).

The global average volume of livestock production during the year 2000 per veterinarian was as follows:

   336 tonnes (t) of meat in total

   82 t beef/veal

   11 t mutton/lamb

   6 t goat meat

   130 t pork

   65 t poultry meat

   708 t cow milk

   74 t hen eggs (Table VII).

The global average numbers and values of internationally traded live animals during the year 2000 per veterinarian were as follows:

   12 cattle (US$6,004)

   23 sheep (US$1,146)

   22 pigs (US$1,844)

   1 horse (US$2,562)

   1,086 chickens (US$1,119) (Table VIII).

The global average volume and value of internationally traded animal products during the year 2000 per veterinarian were as follows:

   33 t meat and meat products (US$64,662)

   3 t beef/veal (US$5,563)

   1 t mutton/lamb (US$3,135)

   3 t pork (US$5,176)

   9 t chicken meat (US$8,779) (Table IX).

The global average number of LUs per veterinarian was 2,289. The number of LUs for each government veterinarian was 8,242 and per veterinarian in private practice, 4,940 (Fig. 4).

When dividing the total annual working time of all veterinarians (that is, 48 working weeks, each week comprising 5 working days, each day comprising 8 working hours, multiplied by the global number of veterinarians) by the global number of LUs, then, in theory, each unit would require a very approximate, average annual working time of 50 minutes. The estimate for government veterinarians would be 14 minutes, whereas for those in private practice, it would reach 23 minutes.

Discussion

These results have to be understood as estimates only, and very approximate representations of reality. Not all countries sent in up-to-date reports. The data from several countries were inexact, due to the following:

   deficiencies in reporting and administration systems

   changes in information-gathering systems

   varying interpretations of the indicators, etc.

However, the term ‘veterinarian’ was well defined as ‘a person who has graduated from a university-level veterinary school’. The data on veterinarians working as government officers were supported by the documentation required for their salaries on the national payroll. Correspondingly, the data on veterinarians in non-governmental categories were less exact. Data on ‘other veterinarians’ were not reported uniformly. This category included the following sub-categories:

   veterinarians employed in co-operatives

   veterinarians employed by private livestock companies

   veterinarians employed in the food processing, pharmaceutical and other industry sectors

   veterinarians working in the army

   veterinarians working abroad

   veterinarians working part time

   veterinarians who were not currently practising because they were working in non-veterinary jobs, retired, unemployed, etc.

The first comparable analysis of global veterinary human resources was conducted for the year 1977. This analysis presented the following averages per veterinarian:

   11,623 inhabitants

   1,908 people who were economically active in agriculture

   11,143 production animals (mammals)

   4,413 slaughtered animals (mammals)

   14,587 ha permanent meadows, pastures and arable land

   3,984 LUs.

The average working time per unit of livestock was estimated at 30 minutes annually (6). Comparison of these values with those from the year 2000 demonstrates the progress that has been made in global veterinary human resources capacity.

This kind of analysis can provide a comparative basis for planning in human resources development, that is, for identifying future educational needs. For this purpose, it is also necessary to analyse influencing factors. Among these influencing factors are the following:

        the size and structure of animal populations

        the average size of herds and flocks

        the prevailing systems and technologies for livestock production

        the use of animals in agricultural work and for transport

        the situation in regard to animal health and diseases (particularly infectious diseases) and those programmes which have been established to control them

        the extent of veterinary involvement in:

a)      the keeping of companion animals

b)      the control of zoonoses

c)       food hygiene

d)      animal husbandry, etc.

        the use made of auxiliary personnel

        the ratio between preventive and curative practice

        the ratio between veterinary services in rural areas and those in urban areas

        the organisation and management of the Veterinary Service concerned and the legislation relevant to the Service

        the availability of diagnostic laboratories, transportation and material and financial resources

        the availability of education and training facilities

        the expected cost/benefit of veterinary human resources, etc.

Additional influencing factors include:

   the living standard of the human population

   the level of economic development of the country

   the technical competence and experience of animal owners

   the volume of national trade in animals and animal products

   the volume of exports/imports of animals, etc.

Conclusion

Calculating the average values of selected criteria per veterinarian can be useful for comparative studies when assessing the ability of the Veterinary Services concerned to cope with animal health problems and in planning for future human resources. However, it is difficult to make an objective comparison of the different veterinary personnel situations in different countries. Every country has different veterinary personnel conditions and needs, is at a different stage of development in its Veterinary Service, and employs a different structure of veterinary staff categories (often mutually overlapping). Therefore, the impracticability of setting a fixed and uniform international quantitative standard for Veterinary Services should be recognised.

However, a correct assessment of veterinary human resource requirements is nonetheless essential for meaningful predictions and planning in regard to the development of veterinary staff and for decisions on the future numbers, types, capacities and programmes of educational and training institutions.

The author recommends that the following data be included in future international veterinary information systems:

   the number of ‘accredited veterinarians’ who issue official certificates, on behalf of the government, for national and international trade (i.e., who play a key role in preventing diseases spread through trade)

   the number of women veterinarians

   the number of veterinarians in specific professional fields

   the number of newly graduated veterinarians.

The results of this type of analysis can provide a departure point for the future international evaluation of veterinary human resources development, as well as for the orientation of comparative studies required for national veterinary staff planning.

Analyse quantitative globale des ressources humaines vétérinaires

V. Kouba

Résumé

Cette analyse des ressources globales en personnel vétérinaire se fonde sur les données quantitatives fournies par les différents pays aux organisations internationales. Dans un premier temps, l’auteur fait état du nombre de vétérinaires recensés au niveau mondial, qui est passé de 140 391 en 1959, au début de la série chronologique considérée, à 691 379 en 2000. Dans cet effectif total, 27,77 % étaient des fonctionnaires, 15,38 % travaillaient dans des laboratoires, des universités ou des établissements de formation et 46,33 % s’étaient installés à leur compte. Le rapport entre les vétérinaires et les techniciens était de 1 pour 0,63.

Le champ de compétence de chaque vétérinaire s’exerce en moyenne sur 8 760 habitants, un territoire de 189 km2 et 20 km2 de terres arables ; 1 925 bovins, 242 buffles, 87 chevaux, 1 309 porcins, 1 533 ovins et 20 714 poulets ; l’abattage (en abattoir) de 401 bovins, 699 ovins et 1 674 porcins ; la production de 336 tonnes (t) de viande, 708 t de lait de vache et 74 t d’œufs de poule ; le commerce international de 12 bovins, 23 ovins, 22 porcins, 1 cheval, 1 086 poulets, 33 t de viande et de produits carnés ; 2 289 unités de gros bétail (50 minutes par an et par unité du temps de travail du vétérinaire).

Ces valeurs moyennes ont également été analysées par catégorie d’emploi. En outre, l’auteur étudie les facteurs qui influent sur les analyses et la gestion du personnel vétérinaire.

Mots-clés

Analyse globale – Charges de travail du vétérinaire – Développement des ressources humaines – Systèmes d’information – Ressources humaines mondiales en personnel vétérinaire – Ressources humaines vétérinaires – Services vétérinaires – Techniciens vétérinaires.

Análisis cuantitativo del personal veterinario en el mundo

V. Kouba

Resumen

El autor describe un análisis de los recursos humanos veterinarios en el mundo, realizado a partir de las cifras que los países han ido comunicando a organizaciones internacionales. El análisis parte de una serie cronológica del número total de veterinarios de los que se tiene constancia en el mundo desde 1959 (140.391). En 2000, esa cifra se elevaba a 691.379 veterinarios, de los cuales un 27,77% trabajaba en servicios oficiales, un 15,38% en laboratorios, universidades y establecimientos de formación y un 46,33% lo hacía por cuenta propia. El cociente entre veterinarios y técnicos era de 1 a 0.63.

En cuanto a los recursos que cada veterinario cubría, se obtuvieron los siguientes promedios mundiales: 8.760 habitantes por veterinario; 189 km2 de superficie y 20 km2 de tierra cultivable; 1.925 bovinos, 242 búfalos, 87 caballos, 1.309 cerdos, 1.533 ovinos y 20.714 pollos; el número de sacrificios en matadero se cifró en 401 bovinos, 699 ovinos y 1.674 cerdos por veterinario; la producción fue de 336 toneladas (t) de carne, 708 t de leche de vaca y 74 t de huevos de gallina; en cuanto al comercio internacional, a cada veterinario correspondieron 12 bovinos, 23 ovinos, 22 cerdos, 1 caballo, 1.086 pollos y 33 t de carne y productos cárnicos; por último, había 2.289 unidades ganaderas por veterinario (50 minutos anuales de servicios veterinarios por unidad).

Esos promedios fueron analizados asimismo por categorías de empleo. El autor describe además los factores que influyen en los análisis y la planificación del personal veterinario.

Palabras clave

Análisis mundial – Desarrollo de los recursos humanos – Recursos humanos veterinarios – Recursos humanos veterinarios en el mundo – Servicios veterinarios – Sistemas de información –– Técnicos veterinarios – Volúmenes de trabajo de la profesión veterinaria.

 

References

1.    Braend M. (1979). – World veterinary manpower: comparative aspects. Vet. Rec., 105 (4), 77-79.

2.    Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/World organisation for animal health (FAO/WHO/OIE) (1956-1995). – FAO/WHO/OIE Animal health yearbook. FAO, Rome.

3.    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (1991). – Guidelines for strengthening animal health services in developing countries. FAO, Rome, 141 pp.

4.    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2000). – FAO Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics, Vol. 1, No. 2. FAO, Rome, 151-162.

5.    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2002). – FAO Statistical Databases (FAOSTAT). FAO, Rome, (http://apps.fao.org/ accessed 22 October 2003).

6.    Kouba V. (1979). – World veterinary manpower development. In Proc. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) Seminar on Veterinary Pathology, 3-21 September, Mexico City. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, 137-141.

7.    Kouba V. (1980). – World veterinary manpower development with particular regard to Africa and the Near East. In Proc. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) Seminar on Animal Reproduction, 8-26 September, Nairobi. Veterinary Faculty, University of Nairobi, 160 pp.

8.    OIE (World organisation for animal health) (1996-2001). – World Animal Health. OIE, Paris.

9.    Schoenherr S. & Meyer H. (1971). – The number of the domestic animal population. The Blue Book for the Veterinary Profession. 20 (1), 1–14.

 

__________


Table I
Global numbers of veterinarians (government, private and total), as reported by individual countries from 1959 to 2000

Year

Number of country reports

Reported number of veterinarians in government and private practice

Reports missing from these major countries

Total

Government

Private

1959

107

140,391

 

 

C

1960

106

151,255

 

 

C

1961

112

143,650

 

 

C

1962

103

150,297

 

 

C

1963

107

161,702

 

 

C

1964

116

161,921

 

 

C

1965

123

173,736

 

 

C

1966

126

201,434

 

 

C

1967

131

203,645

 

 

C

1968

137

210,614

 

 

C

1969

141

227,016

 

 

C

1970

141

232,437

 

 

C

1971

151

240,912

 

 

C

1972

152

236,874

 

 

C

1973

153

253,881

 

 

C

1974

156

260,734

 

 

C

1975

156

264,081

 

 

C

1976

157

259,727

 

 

C

1977

161

272,464

 

 

C

1978

162

284,314

 

 

C

1979

164

291,582

 

 

C

1980

163

303,992

 

 

C

1981

166

319,203

 

 

C

1982

160

337,128

 

 

C

1983

116

240,404

65,930

79,026

C, USSR

1984

136

260,711

96,372

81,581

C, USSR

1985

151

289,969

100,057

104,679

C, USSR

1986

154

310,441

110,577

107,957

C, USSR

1987

160

333,424

118,909

124,426

C, USSR

1988

165

359,501

125,087

138,481

C, USSR

1989

166

383,933

130,782

145,317

C, USSR

1990

165

403,924

120,642

166,545

C, USSR

1991

169

436,701

132,342

185,615

C, USSR

1992

156

417,463

128,662

181,908

C, R

1993

135

552,331

144,888

228,697

R, F

1994

110

520,263

141,317

215,676

R

1995

132

565,500

154,126

229,956

R

1996

140

524,342

151,529

206,761

C, R

1997

152

527,074

125,173

219,692

C, R

1998

145

530,626

153,995

226,699

C, R

1999

128

490,668

156,344

212,286

C, R, USA

2000

136

548,660

149,561

260,923

C, R

C: the People’s Republic of China

USSR: the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (dissolved in 1991)

R: Russia (from 1992)

F:  France

USA: the United States of America


Table II
Global structure and numbers of veterinary personnel, as reported by 136 countries for the year 2000 (not including estimated data from countries which did not submit a report)

Structure of veterinary human resources

Number

Percentage of total

Veterinarians

 

 

Government officials (central, local)

149,561

27.26%

Veterinarians at laboratories, universities, training institutions

63,789

11.63%

Private practitioners

260,923

47.56%

Other

74,387

13.55%

Total

548,660

100.00%

Technical personnel

 

 

Animal health assistants

114,838

33.33. %

Animal health auxiliaries

79,159

22.98%

Food hygiene technicians

45,620

13.24%

Others

104,916

30.45%

Total

344,533

100.00%


Table III
Global numbers and categories of veterinarians, as reported by individual countries for the year 2000 (including the latest previous data from countries which did not send actual reports)

Category of veterinary employment

Number

Percentage

Government officials (central, local)

192,020

27.77%

Laboratories, universities, training institutions

106,303

15.38%

Private practitioners

320,346

46.33%

Others

72,710

10.52%

Total

691,379

100.00%

 


Table IV
Human population and land area per veterinarian, global figures for the year 2000

Indicator

Total figure

Average figure per (category of) veterinarian

Total

Government

Laboratory/institution

Private

Human population

 

 

 

 

 

Total

6,056,710,000

8,760

31,542

56,976

18,907

Those involved in agriculture

2,567,001,000

3,713

13,368

24,148

8,013

Those economically active in agriculture

1,318,629,000

1,907

6,867

12,404

4,116

Land area (in km2)

 

 

 

 

 

Land area

130,505,160

189

680

1,228

407

Arable land area

13,691,100

20

71

129

43

Area under permanent crop cultivation

1,324,050

2

7

12

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Table V
Livestock populations per veterinarian, global figures for the year 2000

Indicator

Total number (in 1,000s)

Average number per (category of) veterinarian

Total

Government

Laboratory/institution

Private

Cattle

1,331,137

1,925

6,932

12,522

4,155

Buffaloes

167,035

242

870

1,571

521

Horses

60,187

87

313

566

188

Mules

14,036

20

73

132

44

Asses

43,341

63

226

408

135

Camels

18,970

27

99

178

59

Pigs

904,673

1,309

4,711

8,510

2,824

Sheep

1,060,195

1,533

5,521

9,973

3,310

Goats

714,175

1,033

3,719

6,718

2,229

Chickens

14,321,000

20,714

74,581

134,719

44,705

 


Table VI
Slaughtered food animals per veterinarian, global figures for the year 2000

Indicator

Total number (in 1,000s)

Average number per (category of) veterinarian

Total

Government

Laboratory/institution

Private

Cattle

277,445

401

1,445

2,610

866

Sheep

483,255

699

2,517

4,546

1,509

Goats

106,653

284

1,024

1,850

614

Pigs

1,157,069

1,674

6,026

10,885

3,612

 


Table VII
Livestock production per veterinarian, global figures for the year 2000

Indicator

Total volume in tonnes (t)

Average volume per (category of) veterinarian

Total (t)

Government

Laboratory/institution

Private

Total of meat

232,572,774

336

1,211

2,188

726

Beef/veal

56,588,394

82

295

532

177

Mutton/lamb

7,611,814

11

40

72

24

Goat meat

3,802,747

6

20

36

12

Pork

89,610,731

130

467

843

280

Poultry meat

44,705,717

65

230

421

140

Cow milk

489,813,622

708

2,551

4,608

1,529

Hen eggs

51,269,203

74

267

482

160

 


Table VIII
Numbers and value (in
United States dollars) of internationally traded live animals per veterinarian, global figures for the year 2000

Indicator

Total figure

Average number per (category of) veterinarian

Total

Government

Laboratory/institution

Private

 

Number

Number

Cattle

8,343,580

12

43

78

26

Sheep

15,966,008

23

83

150

50

Goats

2,080,778

3

11

20

6

Pigs

15,297,700

22

80

144

48

Horses

307,313

1

2

3

1

Chickens

750,740,000

1,086

3,910

7,062

2,344

 

Value in US$

Value in US$

Cattle

4,150,838,000

6,004

21,617

39,047

12,957

Sheep

792,271,000

1,146

4,126

7,453

2,473

Goats

77,965,000

113

406

733

243

Pigs

1,274,719,000

1,844

6,638

11,991

3,979

Horses

1,771,521,000

2,562

9,226

16,665

5,530

Chickens

 

773,715,000

1,119

4,029

7,278

2,415

 


Table IX
Quantity and value (in
United States dollars) of internationally traded animal products per veterinarian, global figures for the year 2000

Indicator

Total figure

Average value per (category of) veterinarian

Total

Government

Laboratory/institution

Private

 

Quantity in tonnes

Quantity in tonnes

Meat and meat products

23,083,787

33

120

217

72

Beef/veal

1,858,276

3

10

17

6

Mutton/lamb

864,621

1

5

8

3

Pork

2,300,211

3

12

22

7

Chicken meat

5,915,086

9

31

56

18

 

Value in US$

Value in US$

Meat and meat products

44,705,815,000

64,662

232,819

420,551

139,555

Beef/veal

3,845,812,000

5,563

20,028

36,178

12,005

Mutton/lamb

2,167,134,000

3,135

11,286

20,386

6,765

Pork

3,578,863,000

5,176

18,638

33,667

11,172

Chicken meat

6,069,528,000

8,779

31,609

57,096

18,947

 

Fig. 1
Development in the total number of veterinarians as reported by individual countries, global figures from 1959 to 2000