Milk Production

INTRODUCTION

Milk production and processing is the most important component in livestock sector in Pakistan. The value of milk alone exceeds the combined value of wheat, rice, maize and sugarcane. The milk in Pakistan is predominantly produced under four different production system namely Rural Subsistence Smallholdings, Rural Market Oriented Small –holdings, Rural Commercial Farms and Periurban/ Urban Dairying. The overall animal herd is thinly spread across thousand of square kilometers with and average of 3-5 animal per house hold and more than 40 million people in the rural area are engaged in livestock raising. Out of total milk produced, 97 % is marketed in informal sector (loose milk consumed in the villages and/or sold in the cities through”Gawallaws” is unhygienic conditions and without any quality standards). Since more than 90% of milk is produced by small holders, its collection and processing faces a major challenge. The dairy sector operates mostly in the informal way and needs and consistent assistance to organize itself to be able to contribute better in the national economy.
Pakistan is endowed with a large livestock population well adapted to the local environmental conditions. According to livestock census (2006), food animals consist of 27.33 million buffaloes, 29.56 million cattle, 53.75 million goats, 26.49 million sheep and 0.9 millions camels. Dairy animals are cattle (Red  Sindhi, Sahiwal , Cholistani and crossbred) and buffalo and cattle is low due to non availability  of superior germplasm, limited feed resources and inefficient disease control. Demand for milk and dairy products is increasing at a high pace due to population growth, urbanization and increase in per capital income.
The performance of an animal is a result of contribution of genetic and environmental factors and their interactions. The environmental contribution is formed by feeding, better health services and climatic influences. However, the impact of these efforts reverts back when these inputs are discontinued. Contrarily genetic contribution is permanent in nature and passes generation after generation. There are many ways for the genetic improvement of milk production is selection of genetically superior males through progeny testing program as it is well known fact that ‘bull is half the herd’. In the progeny testing program semen of candidate bulls is used for inseminating the animals. The female calves, thus born, are raised and their first lactation milk production is recorded at farmer’s doorstep for ten months. Milk production data thus generated is analyzed using specialized computer software to compute the breeding values. Based on this analysis, the bulls having daughters with higher mil production breeding values are declared as positive proven bulls. The semen of such bull is extensively used through AI network for disseminating the genetic improvement in general population on mass scale. In this way, one is sure that  proven bull’s daughter’s milk production will be higher as compared to their dams’ milk production in general population on mass scale. In this way, one is sure that proven bull’s daughters’ milk production will be higher as compared to their dams mill production in general and thus genetic improvement of animals is the real service to poor farmers for poverty alleviation on sustainable basis.

COMPONENTS

The project has three major components:

 

Component I: Milk Collection and Marketing from Small and Landless Farmers

 

Five hundred villages (Preferably in clusters) deficient in organized milk collection system and marketing would be identified throughout the country. A total of 300 milk cooling centers will be established on demand driven basis and these contents will be linked to the market. These cooling centers will be managed by Milk Producers Groups. The members of the groups will be provided with:

• Provision of veterinary cover, health (vaccination, deworming) and breeding facility.
• Improved animal nutrition balanced feed and quality fodder seed etc.
• Capacity building of village livestock workers
• Guaranteed purchase of milk form registered farmers
• Facilitate sale of milk to existing dairy plants, other bulk buyers or help in setting up marketing by farmer’s organizations themselves.
• This activity is initially undertaken at Nowshera Takht Bhai in NWFP ,Kasur, Mandi Bahaudin  and Noshera Virkan in Punjab, Tando Muhammed Khan and Tando Allah Yar in Sindh; Pishin and Kuchluk in Balochistan and Gilgit  in Nortern Areas. The activity will be expanded to other area during later years of project implementation.

Component II: Production of Quality Breeding Animals

 The progressive dairy breeds will be assisted under this component to produce better quality animals. These breeds will be required to maintain production data and will be provided support in the following areas:

• Capacity building in various aspects of dairy farming
• Support for fodder production
• Technical support for silage/ hay making
• Provision of services like health cover and AI
• Facilitate sale of quality heifers and future breeding bulls.

 

Component III: Production of Progeny Tested Bulls

 The existing progeny testing programs of Shiwal cattle and Nili–Ravi buffaloes in Punjab will be strengthened by providing physical facilities like semen evaluation and storage equipment to semen production units and selected artificial insemination centers besides technical back stopping in implementing and monitoring field activities.

In Sindh, progeny testing program for Red Sindhi ( Cattle ) and Kundhi (Buffalo) breeds will be initiated in collaboration with Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh. The Calf Raising Centers and semen production Units will be established preferably one each in the public and private sector. Both setups will be provided funds on cost sharing basis for establishment of facilities and operational funds for the purchase and rearing of candidate/donor bulls. Male Calves Purchased from other provinces and territories will also be put into progeny testing program by transporting these calves to Calf Raising Canters. Facilities to registered farmers will include:

 

• Free A.I to registered animals and free de-worming to new born calves
• Training various aspects of dairy farming
• Supply of  good quality fodder seed and support in silage and hay making

 

Expected Impact

• Establishing 300 milk cooling centers, each of 800-1000 litters capacity, to facilitate marketing of milk from landless and small farmers.
• Establishment of 300 milk producers groups(MPGs)
• Training of 300 village livestock workers and thus creating self employment opportunity in the rural areas.
• Production and marketing of additional 35000 lites of milk per day in the project area.
• Increase in recorded population involving livestock breeders for progeny testing  program and consequently production of proven bulls for dairy breeds of Pakistan
• Establishing two calf rearing centre in Sindh and Strengthening 3 centers in Punjab.