• The chief responsibility of this Directorate is to formulate national policies and guidelines for increasing production and productivity of livestock and its products. It formulates both short term and long term plans based on approved policies and carries out regular monitoring and evaluation of the running and accomplished projects and prepares future policies.
• Provides technical helps to different line agencies to disseminate advanced technologies through livestock extension programmes.
• Prepares norms and guidelines for all the programs related to livestock development to be implemented in all parts of country.

Under this directorate also there are number of sections which are:-

A. National Livestock Breeding Centre
• In coordination with NARC, this section develops breeds of livestock that are environmentally suitable and geographically adaptive.
• Conserves genetic potential of local/indigenous breeds of livestock and poultry.
• Puts its effort in increasing production and productivity of livestock through artficial insemination.

B. National Pasture and Animal Feed Centre
• Help to increase production and productivity of livestock through development of feeds (fodder/forage/pasture/concentrates)
• Conduts programmes outlined in national policies to decrease cost of production
• Provides technical assistance to various line agencies to acheive the above-mentioned objectives.

C. Central Cattle and Buffalo Promotion Office:
• Provides necessary technical assistance to farmers on clean milk production.
• Provides technical assistance and trainings to private dairy entreprenuers
• Controls quality of milk and milk products.

D. Central Sheep and Goat Promotion Office:
• Formulates necessary policies and guidelines for development of sheep and goat.
• Develops resource centres of sheep and goat.
• Helps in import substitution and assists in poverty reduction

E. Central Swine and Poultry Promotion Office

• Formulate policy and strategy in pig and poultry sub-sector.
• Support commercial, semi-commercial and marginal farmers by providing necessary technical backstopping.
• Coordinate and facilitate producers, industrialists and marketers.
• Transfer appropriate technology for quality and low cost production.

F. Livestock Quality Management Laboratory

Main objective of the laboratory is to create suitable environment in the quality production, marketing and consumption of livestock products through standardization activities including laboratory testing and inspections. Major functions are laboratory testing and inspection; documentation; lot certification; quality management; and laboratory establishment and routine testing

G. Livestock development farms (11)

• There are 10 farms and one rhizobium lab
• Works as the resource center for livestock and pasture development.
• Assists in technology transfer
• Conduct necessary outreach programs

H. Livestock Breeding Offices (2)
• Collects and distributes semen of improved and exotic breeds for artificial insemination.
• Production, sale and distribution of liquid nitrogen.