About Us

PAN Livestock Services Limited is an independent consultancy company, established in 1980, specialising in livestock development. The company is based in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading, close to London in the south of England.

Interdisciplinary

PAN Livestock Services has seven permanently-employed technical staff covering:

• Animal health

• Veterinary epidemiology

• Livestock production and health economics

• Socio-economics

• Animal production

• Information systems

• Laboratory diagnosis and management

Two thirds of staff are normally based in Reading, providing a wide range and depth of expertise at any time. The remaining staff are on long-term overseas assignments, managed or supported by the company.

Activities

PAN Livestock Services’ activities are aimed at improving the circumstances of livestock producers and consumers of livestock products through more appropriate and effective livestock services and management. These include:

• strengthening epidemiological and socio-economic capabilities to predict the economic and social implications of introducing change, including options for disease control;

• improving disease surveillance and supporting laboratory services;

• improving information collection, analysis and dissemination;

• supporting the development of sustainable veterinary and livestock service provision through government services, co-operatives and non-governmental support to farmers;

• development of computerised systems for monitoring herd health and productivity for use by farmers or local consultants offering commercial management services;

• providing technical support to livestock projects, including detailed specification and procurement of computers, laboratory equipment and supplies;

• delivery of appropriate training.

Consultancy

PAN Livestock Services has provided consultancy and support services to more than 100 livestock-related projects and programmes in over 70 countries, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Funding agencies include the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, EU, FAO, IAEA, OIE, UNDP, WHO, British, Danish, Dutch and German bilateral aid.

Training

Since its formation, PAN Livestock Services has maintained very close links with the Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit (VEERU) in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading. PAN Livestock Services technical staff are honorary members of the University academic staff, and implement the VEERU training courses. Consultancy activities ensure staff are aware of prevailing problems and can update training courses to the needs of developing countries.

Training opportunities at VEERU include modular post graduate study programmes, taken as short courses or as components leading to the degree of MSc. To date, more then 200 graduates have obtained MSc, MPhil or PhD degrees at VEERU.

Research and development

PAN Livestock Services conducts research and development on livestock production and health issues, in the United Kingdom and overseas. Research topics aimed at improvements in livestock production are identified from a mixture of contracted research, overseas development projects and areas of special interest. Technical staff spend approximately one third of their time on research and development. In addition to supervision of students studying for PhD degrees, staff are able to utilise this expertise in support of overseas livestock development projects and training on VEERU courses.

 Further expertise

The proximity of other units working in related disciplines at the University of Reading constitutes an outstanding resource available to the company. In addition to widening the pool of available expertise, it enables the tailoring of research and training to precise needs of projects and countries. These co-operating units include:

• International and Rural Development Department (IRDD);

• Animal Science and Production Unit;

• Department of Agricultural and Food Economics;

• School of Applied Statistics.

This co-operation also allows PAN Livestock Services to supplement the skills of its core staff by employing individuals from within the University to undertake short-term consultancies and support activities.