Livestock Sector Performance in Sierra Leone: Constraints and Growth Potential Under the Annual Agricultural Report 2023/24

The 2024 Sierra Leone Annual Agricultural Survey (SLAAS) provides a comprehensive overview of livestock production across the country’s five administrative regions. Goats dominate holdings (53.2%), followed closely by poultry (55%), while sheep and cattle are less prevalent. Cattle are concentrated in the North-Western region, and pigs remain marginal. Constraints affecting productivity include inadequate veterinary services, dependence on traditional medicines, limited adoption of artificial insemination, and recurrent disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, programs such as the Feed Salone Strategy (2023–2028) and the National Sustainable Agriculture Development Plan (NSADP) present opportunities for growth by promoting improved breeding, climate-smart practices, and enhanced market linkages (Stats SL/MAFS, 2024).