Promoting livestock sector: Efforts needed to increase per animal milk productivity

Despite being big producer, low yield preventing farmers from reaping benefits

FAISALABAD: Livestock diseases and low per animal milk productivity are costing the country billions of rupees and efforts are needed on the part of researchers, stakeholders and farmers to address the challenges, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

Speaking to participants of an internee-stakeholder interactive workshop at the UAF, he said analysis showed that per animal milk production in Pakistan was only 2,000 litres per annum compared to 8,000 litres in the developed nations.

Khan revealed that the UAF in collaboration with the University of California was revising the curriculum of the Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in order to bring it in line with international standards and practices that would help produce quality manpower.

“Despite being a big milk producer, the low per animal milk production is preventing the farming community from reaping any benefits,” Khan said. “The livestock sector contributes 12% to GDP out of agriculture’s 21% share.”



Pointing out that the foot and mouth disease was causing great loss to the sector, he said the UAF had developed Mastitis vaccine and diagnostic kit in order to tackle the infestation. The UAF has also introduced an anti-parasitic medicine for animals.

Veterinary Sciences Faculty Dean Dr Zafar Iqbal said the faculty had constituted different groups to promote research and outreach activities and cement the academia-industry linkages.

“The country can save millions of dollars by producing various vaccines to minimise their import,” he said. He was of the view that skilled manpower with motivation was imperative to fulfill the dream of development and prosperity.

Progressive farmer Basharat Jaspal pointed out that with the increasing cost of animals, the demand for veterinary doctors had grown. He urged young doctors to have maximum experience of field work in order to be successful in their practical life. This year, 160 students of veterinary sciences have completed their internship at the UAF, which will help the country promote the livestock sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2016.

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