In preparation for the launch of a small ruminant identification and registration project in 2025, specialists from the Austrian Agricultural Cluster visited Armenia from September 16-20.

The cluster plays a key role in promoting agricultural development in Austria, focusing on advancing goat and sheep breeding.

During the visit, Josef Stoeckl, President of Austria's Small Cattle Association, and Hermann Wieser, Head of the Austrian Agricultural Cluster, shared Austria's expertise and best practices in goat and sheep breeding systems.

Austrian specialists covered the following topics:

• Overview of the Austrian Agricultural Association, its organizational structure, and its role in advancing goat and sheep breeding.
• The evolution of goat and sheep breeding in Austria.
• Implementation of small cattle identification and registration processes.
• The adoption of innovative technologies in goat and sheep breeding practices.

As part of the visit, a workshop titled "Introduction of the Sheep and Goat Systems in Austria"  was held on September 18.

The workshop was attended by Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Tatevik Sargsyan, Head of the Yerevan Office of the Austrian Development Agency Klaus Kapper, Director of the Center for Agricultural Services SNCO of the Ministry of Economy Garnik Hovhannisyan, representatives from the Food Safety Inspection Body of Armenia, the CARD Foundation, the Armenian National Agrarian University, the Armenian Sheep Breeders' Association, as well as farmers engaged in sheep and goat breeding.

The experts had the opportunity to visit small ruminant farms, engaging with farmers and veterinarians.

An agreement was reached to continue collaboration and exchange of expertise, focusing on improving the small ruminant sector in Armenia and implementing the identification system.

The visit was organized with funding from the Austrian Development Agency through the CARD Foundation.