Table 1.

SWOT analyses considering cattle infectious disease control programmes in Albania.

Strengths	Weaknesses
National and public level: A clear chain of command within the State Veterinary Service. The availability of a national livestock and veterinary information system (RUDA). Valuable experience gained from applying strategic programmes for control of major zoonotic diseases. Human and laboratory capacities of the National Reference Laboratory. Continuous education and staff exchange programmes at national and international level. An Albanian veterinary faculty. Small farms have a higher animal welfare. Farm level: Traditional experience and successful family farms. Increasing use of artificial insemination and improving of local cattle breeds. Small herds. Periodical collection of bulk milk samples.	National and public level: Limited control and documentation of animal movements at both national and farm level. Limited animal identification and registration. Trade at livestock markets without disease control. Lack of calves for fattening. Lack of farm specialization. Lack of economically driven production. Lack of export of live cattle and dairy products. Limited research studies on the prevalence and incidence of endemic bovine diseases. Lack of investments in the cattle industry. Low number of government veterinary staff in central level. Government funds dedicated to only four diseases: bovine brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, anthrax, and lumpy skin disease. Bureaucratic procedures to obtain limited financial support to farmers. Low level of organization of the farmer's associations. Limited data routinely recorded and stored centrally. Mandatory quarantine not enforced or applied. Farm level: Small and fragmented farmland. Use of communal pasture for herds with unknown disease status. High age of farmers and limited engagement of younger generations. Limited access to veterinary services in rural areas. Lack of farmer perception of infectious diseases and their impact in human health, herds efficiency and competitiveness. Application of limited biosecurity measures on cattle farms. Limited farmers' knowledge and compliance with legal requirements.
Opportunities	Threats
National or public level:Increasing demand for animal food products, alongside the development of agritourism. Increasing global human population and with it the demand for high value products. Collaboration with the scientific community in EU countries to gain coherent knowledge and expertise (such as SOUND control). Education of staff in the EU (Erasmus+, Horizon 2020, COST). EU funding for supporting Albania Veterinary Services. Export of animal products when zoonotic diseases are under control. Development tourism activities. Farm level: Increase farmer awareness for the importance of biosecurity in disease control. Organic animal products.	National or public level: Global warming may hamper cattle production. New emerging diseases. Difficulty in implementing new EU animal health regulations. Emigration. Lack of incentive for young generation. Societal pressures to reduce farm animal product consumption due to perceived health benefits and farm associated greenhouse gas emissions. The high average age of farmers. Farm level: Limited availability of alternative financial resources. Few younger people engage in the industry due to a lack of livestock enterprise competitiveness and increasing emigration. High cost of dairy and beef cattle products and lack of competitiveness with regional and European products.