Future of livestock at stake

ROME: Millions of livestock have been affected by the floods in Pakistan and are badly in need of food and medicine, Food And Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).

Around 200,000 cows, sheep, buffaloes, goats and donkeys have already been confirmed as dead or missing but the final numbers will be much higher, possibly into millions, according to a dispatch received from FAO headquarters in Rome (Italy).

"If you count poultry losses, then millions of animals have already died with the entire poultry stock wiped out in some areas".

FAO said, while estimating that millions of surviving animals are now facing severe feed shortages, threatening generations of Pakistan's livestock.

Many animals died because people had to leave them behind when they were rescued by the Pakistan military and other rescue services.

"You can put chickens, goats and sheep in the boat and take them with you but you can't take a buffalo or a cow," said Simon Mack, Chief of FAO Livestock Production Systems Branch.

"In almost every picture you see of flood victims being rescued, someone is clutching a goat or a chicken", he said.

He quoted FAO field staff as reporting that in Sindh, flood victims are turning up at concentration points with large numbers of animals.

The floods have affected the most densely populated livestock areas in Pakistan. Livestock make up about half of agricultural GDP.

"Livestock in this country are the poor people's mobile ATM," said David Doolan, Senior FAO Officer, in charge of FAO programmes in Pakistan. "In good times people build up their herds and in bad times they sell livestock to generate cash. Every animal we save is a productive asset that poor families can use to rebuild their lives when the floods finally pass."

The main priority - and challenge - is to get feed to those animals that have survived as much of the country's traditional animal feed - straw and forage - has been lost in the floods. For buffalo and cattle, it is essential to enable the herds to rebuild quickly during the next breeding season.

It is also imperative to get medicines to animals that have fallen weak or sick because of the disaster.

The UN has asked for $5.7 million in emergency assistance for livestock and FAO has mobilized $1.4 million of funds for the procurement of feedstuff and for animal health vaccines. FAO will be asking for more money for this sector once the full scale of needs is clear.

"We are still trying to get a feel of how much feed is available in the country as much of it has been destroyed. Then we have to transport the feed which is also challenging with so much of the infrastructure damaged," said Mack.

Where straw and fodder are available it can be supplemented with multi nutrient feeding blocks which are produced in Pakistan. Animals can also be fed cereal grains, pulses and by-products – such as bran - but these are also in high demand to feed the human victims of the flood.