Sudan owns a huge livestock population, which consists of cattle, sheep, goats and camels, in addition to the wildlife, fish and poultry. The livestock wealth was estimated to be around 124 million head in 2000 classified in the following categories:

• 37 million head of cattle
• 46 million head of sheep
• 38 million head of goats
• 3 million head of camels

Sudan comes first in the Arab world, and as the second richest African country in livestock and fifth in the World. This is due to its extensive pasturelands and suitability of its climate for animal rising. Good natural pasturage covers more than 57 million sedans, and the nomadic pastoral sector tends for more than 90% of this huge animal population.

The wildlife sector is considered as a sub-sector of the forests' products and there are no statistical data about this sector, but wild animals are distributed in most parts of the country and they vary in accordance with the different climatic zones in Sudan.

Animal Wealth in Sudan witnessed a great improvement in animal population which rose from 58 million head in 1988 to 124 million head in 2000 According to the evaluation of Animal Wealth Sector Performance Report.

The report which is presented by the Federal Ministry of Animal Wealth added that there are more than 36 million domestic birds in addition to a storage of fishery resources estimated to be produced 110 thousands tons of meat annually.

The report added that animal resources play an important role in national food security, providing the country with meat, milk and poultry products. This in addition to exports of live and slaughtered animals. Remains of slaughtered animals are utilized for production of manufactured leather and organic fertilizers, which secure employment opportunities for many people.

According to the report animal wealth contributed 22.4 percent to Gross National Product (GNP) and more than 18 percent of exports revenues in 1999.There is a remarkable increase in GNP contribution over the years. In 1997 it was 20.1%. Revenues from animal exports rose from 133.5 million USD in 1997 to 142.3 million USD in 1999.

Meat production is also increasing. In 1997 meat production was estimated at 1331 tons. It increased to 1463 ton in 1999. It estimated to have reached 1522 tons in 2000. Introducing better breeds of cattle have also improved milk production rates during the recent years. Milk production has raised from 6001 in 1997 to 6650 thousands in 1999 and is expected to have reached 6879 thousand tons in 2000.

The following table details the export of livestock of the Sudan in the last three years (1996 - 1998):

Country	Cows			Sheep and Goats
Year	1996	1997	1998	1996	1997	1998
Jordan	21,0	13,6	23,67	515,2	675,6	566,84
U.A.E.	1,7	2,2	527	1350	1563	1629
Algeria	6	4,6	6,16	70	1319	0
S. Arabia	25	14,77	11,28	5000	4761	5583,42
Syria	03,0	1,56	18,11	510	586,6	1950
Lebanon	55,0	27,72	47,12	180	145,1	126,18
Libya	50,0	34,49	04,69	800	987,5	818,17
Egypt	10,43	8,15	15,68	70	83,2	6,0
Iran	5	5,0	-	-	-	-
Morocco	14,74	8,79	41,51	-	-	-
Yemen	60,0	130,63	60,55	600	657,2	216,2
Nigeria	347,0	329	-	63	63,0	-
Total	589,86	570,51	9158,2	9636,1	9635,5	10081,7

The Country has realised the potential in increasing meat exports to encourage establishment of modern abattoirs. The only abattoir in the Country was privatised and rehabilitated by an Irish Company (Airsun). Five new abattoirs were established by the private sectors in the last two years alone. They will come on stream very shortly (they straddle the country from the West (Niyala) to the East (Port Sudan) on the Red Sea shore. Three are in Khartoum and the middle areas of Sudan.

This explosion in slaughtering capacity would put Sudan in a very competitive position to meat in already growing demand for Sudanese meat in the Arab World where it is already known and accepted.