Illegal exports: ‘Smuggling behind meat price rise’

LAHORE:

The smuggling of animals to neighbouring counties is the main cause of the shortage of meat and rise in meat prices. Around 200,000 animals are illegally exported every month, said University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Nawaz on Sunday.

The vice chancellor told APP that the government should expand fish farming as it was the healthiest meat and was the most efficient in terms of amount of feed required.

He said that raising one kilogramme of beef required 11 kg of feed; raising one kilo of white meat required two kilos of feed; while one kilo of feed raised two-and-a-half kilos of fish.

“They should focus on fish farming as it will not only increase meat production but also bring down cholesterol levels,” he said.

Meat production could be increased by cross-breeding local cows and goats with foreign breeds. Also, instead of the practice of keeping animals for milk and then slaughtering them once they stop producing milk, animals should be raised specifically for meat. This would enhance production by 25 per cent, he said.

He added that the government should also build livestock research centres.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2011.