LIVESTOCK plays a pivotal role in Pakistan’s national economy by providing milk, meat, eggs, hides and skin, wool and hair, and many other products. It accounts for 49 per cent of the agricultural value-added and about 11.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Besides, it has engaged 30-35 million rural population, having household holdings of 2-3 cattle or buffalo, and 5-6 sheep and goat per family. They derive 30-40 per cent of their income from it.
In addition, large quantities of other products like eatable offal, bones and fats (utilized in industrial sector); guts and casings (exported); dung and urine (provide organic matter for land fertility) and blood (used in the poultry feed industry) are also provided by this sector.
Livestock also helps in the conservation of nature by consuming by-products such as straw, husks, bran, cobs, beat pulp etc., by converting it into farmyard manure.
According to the 1997 agricultural census, the country possessed 20 million heads of buffaloes, wherein the share of the NWFP was seven per cent (1.4 million heads). The province accounted for nine per cent of national milk production, 24 per cent beef, 15 per cent mutton, 20 per cent hides, 18 per cent skin, 25 per cent wool and 17 per cent hair. Buffalo farming in the suburb of Peshawar is common to meet the city’s milk demand.
A study was conducted to highlight the economics of peri-urban buffalo in Peshawar. Its objective was to investigate milk marketing and highlight the problems of keepers.
It was found that the number of livestock per farm was influenced by the availability of finance, feed, space, etc. The survey indicated that an average number of milking buffaloes per farm were 24 with four dry calves. The average number of buffaloes in small farms was 13, in medium 29, and in large 66.
The livestock enterprise provided employment to family and other labourers depending on the size of a farm. Small farms employed two labourers, while medium and large ones five and eight labourers respectively. On an average, two were involved on part-time basis in all farms.
Proper shed for animals is an important requirement in the management of livestock. They are essential for better healthcare and productivity. Housing improves the hygienic standards of produce.
Collection and utilization of animal excreta and waste as a source of organic fertilizer is also made easier when animals are properly housed. The structure also indicated the management standards. It was observed that almost all farmers kept the livestock in separate farms with all having Kucha structures, while a few large holders had Pucca area for their livestock. The shed sizes were in accordance with the number of buffaloes available.
Feed was a critical component as the livestock was given fodder and other feed resources to meet the nutritional requirements. Fodder, crops and crop residues form the bulk of feed. Concentrates were fed to animals for higher milk yield. In addition dry fodder was given when green was in shortage.
In the study area, sugarcane, Shaftal and maize were major green fodder grown in Rabi and Kharif seasons, respectively. Beside these, wheat was also fed as green fodder in Rabi season. Dry fodder included mainly wheat straw (bhosa), maize stalk and Baghas. Maize was grown specifically for fodder, partly used as green fodder and the remaining carried over as dry stalk and used in winter during fodder scarcity period. The wheat straw was fed during green fodder shortage period, mixed with (chopped green fodder when available) Chokar.
In addition to these,, concentrates feed comprised of oilseed cake, Chokar and “Gur” (raw sugar) were fed to livestock. Animal feeding calendar consists of wider combination of number of green fodder, dry feed and concentrates supplementation.
Livestock experiences fodder scarcity period during June-July and November-December. From end of December to May, berseem (Shaftal) was the major green fodder and fed along with dry feeds and sugarcane from January-March. From the end of July to September, maize was fed along with other dry feeds.
Both wheat straw (bhosa) and maize stalk constitute the bulk of dry fodder and fed to the animals during green fodder scarcity period (June-July and November-December). In addition to this, sorghum was also fed during the months of October and November to meet the livestock feed requirements.
Milk production was the primary objective of livestock enterprise. A major portion of milk produced in farms was sold in local as well as other markets for cash income. Production depended on the breed of animals, availability of feed and management. In the study area ,none of the livestock holders were aware about the breed and animals were purchased on the basis of their experience and physical appearance.
Average milk yield per buffalo was 7.30 litres. Small farms get the maximum yield per buffalo at 7.63 litres, followed by medium at 7.55 litres and large farms at 7.30 litres. However, the lactation period of buffalo was higher for large farms at 7.86 months, small at 7.64 months, and medium farms at 6.59 months.
Producers used pickups and motorcycles for long distance and travelled on foot, bicycle and horse-driven carts to sell milk. Livestock holders had contract with the urban wholesaler and retailers, milk shops, bakers and confectioners. Besides, producers also delivered milk to consumers at their doorsteps. The price received during the survey period was Rs17 per litre.
Healthcare was the key element of production. Only healthy animals can deliver hygienic production. Foot and Mouth (FMD) disease, diarrhoea, mastitis, pneumonia etc., were found to be the most common diseases among livestock.
During survey, 72 per cent of buffaloes were suffering from foot and mouth disease, with 38 per cent from pneumonia, 20 per cent from gul gattoo and 178 per cent from mastitis. The incidence of disease occurrence was higher in large farms as compared to medium and small, and consequently the yearly veterinary expenses per animal was Rs257, while the overall average expenses per animal was Rs254.
A majority of the diseased animals were treated when there was in outbreak of a disease. This showed a gloomy picture of healthcare that the respondents checked animals at the time of severe attack, otherwise no healthcare was observed.
However, only 38 per cent of the respondents examined their animals frequently. The reason may be that the veterinary hospitals were located far away. Therefore, for many it was impossible or very difficult to take their animals for treatment to hospitals.
Farmers usually purchased the medicines from local shops and treat the animals on the basis of their experience. Vaccination and de-worming provides precautionary measure against epidemics and other seasonal diseases. Farmers were aware of the vaccination and de-worming but still most did not adopt any preventive measures. De-worming practice was low at 44 per cent.
The gross income from the livestock farming comprised of milk production, sale of young stock and farmyard manure. On the other hand, green and dry fodder, concentrates, veterinary medicines and labour constituted its cost. Of the total gross revenue, milk contributed the largest share and accounted for 97 per cent, 98 per cent and 96 per cent, respectively for small, medium and large farms.
Concentrates appeared to be the main cost constituents with 79, 64, and 69 per cent, followed by green fodder 9, 15 and 17 per cent, and labour eight, 15 and nine per cent, respectively for the three farms. Though, small farms get nominal income, however, farmers continue to run their business as it provides them with employment.
Farmers faced a number of problems pointing out low milk prices, finance, healthcare and high prices of inputs and feed. All respondents were of the view that the government should take steps to solve these problems on priority basis.
