Dr Asim Faraz, Dr Abdul Waheed and Dr Ahsan Fayyaz
Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, FVS, BZU Multan
Dairy production is very important to meet the increasing demands of people for milk and meat and to exploit the livestock sector and its potential for economic growth, food security and rural socioeconomic uplift. Improving per unit productivity by improving health, management and breeding practices are main objectives of dairy production in Pakistan. Livestock is an important sector of agriculture. Its role is pivotal towards rural socioeconomic development. Nearly 8 million families involved in livestock raising deriving more than 35 percent income from livestock production activities. It is the source of income, providing the vital, often only source of income for rural poor in the country. It can play an important role in poverty alleviation and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
Livestock has now become the largest sector in agriculture department with a share of approximately 58.6%. The share of livestock in national GDP is 11.6%. Gross value addition of livestock at a constant factor has been increased from Rs. 1247 billion (2014-15) to Rs. 1292 billion (2015-16) showing an increase of 3.63% over the same period last year. The population growth, urbanization, changed eating patterns, increases in per capita income and export opportunities are fueling the demand of livestock and livestock products in the country. The overall livestock development strategy revolves to foster private sector-led development with public sector providing enabling environment through policy interventions and play capacity building role to improve livestock husbandry practices.
Production Systems in Pakistan
Dairy farming in Pakistan is practiced mainly by the private sector on various scales, in both urban and rural settings. With the exception of some
peri-urban units, most dairy farming is practiced in mixed crop-livestock systems. Most researches on production system classify farms on basis of location, herd size and identify four main systems of production
- Small holder subsistence production system
- Small holder market orients production system
- Rural commercial production system
- Peri-urban production system
Small holder subsistence level
Smallholders in rural areas who lack access to a substantial milk market produce milk to meet family requirements at minimal cost. The average subsistence unit consists of about three buffaloes. Average milk yields per animal are 3 liters/day. The main inputs into these households’ dairy production are often non-cash resources, such as family-owned land and labour. Some 70 percent of smallholder milk producers fall into this category. As local tradition prohibits the selling of milk, most of these farmers do not market milk, even when surplus is available.
Small holder market oriented production system
These farmers have satisfactory access to a milk market, encouraging them to produce in excess of family requirements. The typical production unit in this system is family-owned, and consists of five buffaloes: three adult females, one or two female followers, and a male calf. Milk is sold through various channels, including direct sales to retail shops in the nearest city, and sales to intermediaries or the procurement agents of dairy processing corporations.
Rural commercial production system
Recent developments in the dairy industry have encouraged some progressive farmers to invest in milk production. However, these farms still represent less than 1 percent of dairy farms across the country. Average milk yields per animal are 10 liters/day. Potential channels for the marketing of milk in this system are the same as those in the smallholder market-oriented system.
Peri-urban production system
Peri-urban production occurs in commercial-scale units located on the peripheries of major urban centers. These maintain herd sizes ranging from ten to 200 head, and averaging 50 animals – 90 percent buffaloes and 10 percent cows. Table shown the distribution of milk producer by herd size:
Factors effecting dairy production
Following factors affect the dairy production:
- Genetic diversity
- Feed sources
- Management
Genetic diversity
We are mostly obtaining milk from cattle and buffalo. There almost 15 breeds of cattle found in Pakistan in which Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Cholistani are important dairy breeds. The average milk production of Sahiwal is 5-7 liters while the potential of Sahiwal is about 30 liters. This shows the high potential and ability to increase the milk production. Regarding cattle now people are trying to shift at exotic and crossbred cattle which have the production ability of more than 20 liters/day. But the problem of management and associated health risk factors are always there.
Likewise cattle, we have number of breeds buffalo among them Nilli-ravi and Kundi are the important breeds. They also have the potential of about 25-30 liters per day and we can increase the per day production. In Pakistan, milk production is increasing due to increase in number of animals called the horizontal growth. But instead of horizontal growth we have to look at improving the potential of animals called vertical growth. By increasing the potential of animals we can fulfill the need of population.
Feed sources
Two types of feeding practices prevail in Pakistan’s dairy production systems
- In rural household: Animals are closely integrated within rural subsistence economies and are fed grown fodders in the form of residuals and crops used as cut-and-carry livestock feed.
- In intensive and semi-intensive dairy farming around major urban markets: where mainly buffaloes are kept (but with increasing numbers of cattle cross-breeds), animals are fed on crop residues and other agro-industrial byproducts. The use of green fodder depends on its economic availability.
Fodder availability is the major limiting factor for milk production. Fodder crops cover 16 to 19 percent of the country’s total cropped area. The decline in cropped area is likely to increase in the future, as cash crops such as wheat and sugar cane obtain higher prices and have more economic potential. The country’s formulated feed industry is underdeveloped. Compared with an estimated annual demand of 40 million tons, only about 0.20 million tons is produced. This feed is also unaffordable for smallholders, and used by only market-oriented dairies, where it is available.
Management
Management include health management, reproductive management, feeding management, milking management, housing management etc. if we properly manage all these things we can increase the production of our animals.
Government policy measures
- Government is importing the semen of exotic and important breed to increase the genetic potential of animals
- Government has started the livestock insurance scheme for the farmers having 10 or more animals
- In order to facilitate the farmer, duty free import of milk replacer and cattle feed premix was allowed. The duty free import of milking machinery was also allowed
- Government is providing surveillance and diagnostic facilities to farmers against contagious diseases
Future plans
- Coordination between provinces to promote livestock sector
- Coordination with private sector to promote the value addition and diversification of livestock products
- Control of trans-boundary animal diseases like FMD, PPR and zoonotic diseases etc.
