Pakistan gets fodder database
A man awaits customers at a makeshift stall selling animal fodder on the eve of Eidul Azha. Such stalls spring up across the city on the occasion, giving people a chance to make some extra money. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Livestock and Dairy Development Board (LDDB) in collaboration with USAID Pakistan, and the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, have launched the Pakistan Feedstuffs Database.
The database is an updated and authentic resource of livestock feed ingredients including grains, by-products, and nutrition value of fodders available in Pakistan.
LDDB CEO Dr Fatah Ullah Khan and USAID Office of Economic Growth and Agriculture Pakistan Director Mark Tegenfeldt joined the virtual ceremony as guests.
Dr Khan appreciated support by USAID for the improvement and development of the livestock sector in Pakistan. He said that the feedstuffs database will benefit Pakistan’s livestock industry greatly.
He said that the government envisions initiating programmes for livestock breed improvement through embryo transfer and allied reproductive technologies. Federal Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr Khurshid appreciated USAID Pakistan, UVAS and technical team of LDDB for developing the database for the benefit of livestock industry of Pakistan.
He further emphasised strengthening collaboration of USAID, other agencies and LDDB for industry-led programmes in the livestock sector.
Feedstuff nutrition values need to be accurate for optimised feed formulation which requires a consolidated feedstuff library based on authentic local data. Previously, the only available set of consolidated data was analysed during late 1960s and early 1970s.
USAID-funded US-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development (AMD) evaluated and validated available feedstuff with consultation from nutritionists and industry experts. Feedstuff was then collected from different districts of the country, analysed and tested at the UVAS.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2020.