Agriculture

In Lesotho, Agriculture year starts in August and ends in July the following year and livestock statistics is collected twice within agriculture year in the rural areas. First collection is done in August and second collection is done in February whereas information in urban areas is collected every month.

The report that shows the results of livestock information collected in rural areas during the second period (February- August) of 2004/05 agricultural year which compares the current situation (second period, February) with the first period (first period, August 2004 – January 2005) is available at BOS library.

Cattle

Total number of cattle decreased from 679,211 in the first period to 677,214 in the second period. Looking at male cattle, there was a decrease of about 2786 cattle from 296,333 to 293,547. Male calves increased by 599 cattle while female cattle aged one to two years increased by 1904. Male cattle aged over two years decreased by 5286.Female cattle had a slight increase of 791 cattle from 382,877 to 383,668 cattle compared to the previous period. Female calves increased by 331 while those aged one to two years increased by 2703. Female cattle aged over two years decreased by 2244 compared to the first period.

Number of cattle by district and sex and age in second period of 2004/05 agricultural year

District	Male cattle			Total	Female cattle			Total	TOTAL
District	< 1 year	1-2 years	> 2 years	Male	< 1 year	1-2 years	> 2 years	Female	CATTLE
Butha-Buthe	2178	3007	10181	15366	2421	5683	12465	20569	35936
Leribe	5820	8057	28242	42120	4896	11282	40267	56444	98564
Berea	5526	6829	38277	50633	4619	8532	33429	46580	97212
Maseru	10856	5740	36687	53283	4305	8648	40311	53265	106548
Mafeteng	4841	6447	24426	35713	3498	7110	44029	54636	90349
Mohale's Hoek	3415	9394	12509	25318	3377	3484	28560	35421	60739
Quthing	1325	2275	5109	8709	2880	2995	18717	24592	33301
Qacha's Nek	1803	1773	7760	11336	1039	1943	12634	15616	26952
Mokhotlong	1894	3722	9448	15064	2084	2067	21925	26077	41141
Thaba-Tseka	3983	4376	27646	36004	1551	3764	45151	50467	86471
Lesotho Rural	41642	51619	200287	293547	30671	55508	297489	383668	67721

Sheep

Total number of sheep in the country showed a decline of 3% when comparing the first and last period of 2004/05 agricultural year. A higher proportion of about 71% was observed in Female sheep in the second periods than in males. Out of the total sheep, those aged less than one year decreased by 5% while those aged one year and over increased by 1%. Female sheep increased from the first to second period from 633,376 to 653,192 respectively. Male on the other hand decreased from first to second period from a total of 360,244 to 330,985.

Number of sheep by district and age/sex in second period of 2004/05 agricultural year

District	Male sheep		Total	Female sheep		Total	TOTAL
District	< 1 year	> 1 year	Male	< 1 year	> 1 year	Female	SHEEP
Butha-Buthe	7155	12972	20127	6195	19612	25807	44934
Leribe	12486	27918	40404	13756	51911	65667	106070
Berea	10262	22401	32303	10872	24138	35011	67314
Maseru	12400	36937	49337	10670	45770	56440	105777
Mafeteng	8448	23540	31988	8007	48443	56450	88438
Mohale's Hoek	9692	26519	36212	12837	48033	60870	97082
Quthing	5200	15688	20888	5771	53101	58872	79761
Qacha's Nek	6608	18033	24641	16964	36297	53261	77902
Mokhotlong	11430	22470	33900	12769	65953	78722	112622
Thaba-Tseka	9558	31627	41185	14291	147801	162093	203278
Lesotho Rural	93239	237745	330985	112133	541059	653192	984176

Goats

Goats like other livestock show a slight decline between first and the second period from 775,778 to 768,332 respectively.

A decrease was observed through this agricultural year 2004/05 for all goats except those aged less than one year, which increased by 2%.

Number of goats by district and age/sex in the second period of 2002/03 agriculture year

District

Male goats

Total