Doodh Patti

God has gifted Pakistan with a very superior quality livestock in shape of Sahiwal/Red Sindhi Cattle and Nili Ravi/Kundi buffalo. Inspite of the fact that req scientific work has not been carried out in augmenting the capabilities of this stock, these animals are meeting the req of country’s human population which has inc manifold. Our stock has proved its worth globally American, Australians and Europeans have imported our animals to their countries to inject superior germ plasm in their local breeds to induce disease resistance, heat tolerance and better meat quality. Our buffalo is gaining popularity worldwide for its thin fat, low cholesterol meat and rich and highly tasty milk, that too with low cholesterol as compared to cow’s milk.

In spite of great potentials and enormous population there is very limited dairy farming in the country. At present, milk production in the country is dominated by small farmers, possessing tiny land holding and land less labourers. These about 80-90 % farmers maint and average herd of one or two milk animals comprising mainly of buffaloes and cows. Nutritional req of this stock is met by agricultural wastes and byproducts. Availability of family labour and small and holding encourages the farmers to rear the livestock as an occupation subsidiary to agriculture. Income from crop production is seasonal and depends on weather conditions and market rate, whereas livestock provides a sure and year round running of kitchen. It also provides much needed money at the marriages and deaths etc.

In early Nineteen Century Army started organized farming. Various European cattle breeds like Friesian, Jersey and shorthorn etc were imported to the country and cross breeding with local animals was started. With the passage of time pasteurization and manufacture of condensed milk, cream and powdered milk was introduced.

Mil Farms Group was a grass farm to produce fodder for country horses. When the demand of fodder was reduced due to mechanization in Army, the grass farms were converted into dairy farms. These farms were used to breed crossbreed cows, local breed and buffaloes. It is pertinent to mention that at onetime Mil Farm Okara was the largest livestock entrepreneur in Asia and the farms at Okara were state of the Art in technology and livestock raising practices. With the passage of time, new technologies and scientific practices were introduced in the world livestock industry, but due to many reasons Pakistan market could not keep Pace with the international market. In nineties Pakistan Army took initiative and introduced recently developed embryo transfer technique in the livestock. A small scale lab was established. Locally available and imported elite cows were used for Embryo collection Parameters and protocols for embryo transfer under local condition were established. The lab gave the excellent results. The cows produced from here have yielded six thousand liters milk / lactation and all military farms have been flooded with superior quality bulls.
Modern Breeding Techniques

In present days, livestock industry is depending upon modern breeding techniques. Production of proven sires and elite cows in not possible without the new technologies. Selective breeding artificial insemination and embryo transfer are the principal technologies in livestock improvement. Artificial insemination is an old technique but it could not become popular in our farmer due to lack of interest and knowledge at the lower level. It is the only technology which permits extensive use of bull in the country and abroad even years after his death. Without this technology, progeny testing and production of proven bulls is not possible. Artificial inseminations facilitate export of semen globally. It is an important measure to control the venereal diseases.

Embryo Transfer Technology is recently developed procedures for extensive exploitation of elite cows. Usually one embryo is developing and average cow delivers 6 to 7 calves in her life spine. This factor limits the progeny of particular cow. To overcome this problem, embryo transfer technology is used. With the help of hormones more than one embryo is develops in a cow. At the age of 7 days, these embryo are collected and placed in none descript animals for further development and delivery. Meanwhile the elite cow is again treated for collection of more and more embryos. This technique is excellent in production of elite bulls and cows. It is a major tool in shortening production of progeny tested bulls.

Since last many years / without much attention share of livestock is in continuous growth in national GDP, it shows that this sector has the tremendous growth potentials which has not been explored. Farsightedness of the president of Pakistan has very correctly chosen the improvement of livestock sector as a major component of his poverty alleviations programme. As Pakistan Army posses well organized farms and a very large herd and in a position to produce progeny tested bulls and elite cows at its farms, therefore it was felt that benefits of this opportunity should be disseminated to the farmers at national level. For this noble cause, planning commission of Pakistan and military farm took initiative and decided to collaborate with each other for the uplift of mass population of cows and buff it has been decided to produce 8 Million Semen doses of cows and buff from progeny tested bulls. When this semen will be used on non-descript and poor quality females. The next generation of these cows is expected to yield three times more milk as compared their dams. This increase in milk will bring a tremendous rise in social and economic status of the poor farmer. This set up will pave way and lead to the white revolution. For quick proliferation of elite cows. 40,000 embryos will be produced annually and will be distributed among the progressive farmers. 10000 females produced through embryo transfer will boost the milk production to a great extent and 10000 elite quality males will revamp the genetic make up of the national herd. With the grace of God after 20 yrs our buffs and cows will not be less valuable than any other well recognized breed in the world.