PUTRAJAYA, Oct 15 — Veterinary extension officers play a crucial role in bridging government policies, the expertise of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the farming community to boost livestock productivity and strengthen national food security.

Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the effectiveness of veterinary extension services should be measured by improvements at farm level, including lower mortality rates among young livestock, increased milk yields and animal weights, and higher incomes for farmers.

“Policies and targets will only yield results when they reach livestock farmers in the form of the right knowledge and practices.

“Therefore, Scheduled Planned Visits and Gross Margin Analysis must be implemented systematically to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions using concrete data and evidence,” he said when officiating the 2026 Veterinary Extension Convention here today.