November 27, 2006	Monday	Ziqa'ad 5, 1427

Pakistan’s economy being rural-based has potentials to increase the productivity of livestock through provision of adequate and nutritious feed, improved coverage against diseases, improved reproductive management and adoption of modern animal husbandry practices. This sector is one of the fastest growing sectors and provides livelihood to more than 35 million people. Farmers and their households derive about 30 to 40 per cent income from it.

Milk among various products is a major contributor. Its share in value addition of the GDP is high. The country is blessed with the best breeds of cattle and buffalo with a sizeable number of cross-bred cows. The native breeds are well adapted to the environment, excellent converter of roughages and are resistant to diseases. The dairy sector has tremendous potentials to grow. Majority of the rural livestock owner is poor and face growing inequalities in income which can be minimised through investment in this sector.

Ideally, a dairy animal must calve a year to remain profitable in the herd. However, in our conditions major reproductive issues act as constraints. One of the major problems in buffaloes is that most of the calving takes place during July-September. Very few calving occurs from February-June which results in low availability and production of milk. Consequently, the demand and price of milk go high and results in losses for the farmer. Efficient reproductive management can enhance the profitability of dairy farming which remains unrealized due to low capacity or resources. Awareness and education about the reproductive management practices should be top priority of the government.

Reproductive efficiency and profitability are maximised when the average calving interval is around 13-16 months in a dairy herd. In dairy animals service period (calving to conception) in commercial farms should be around 60-90 days.

About 10-15 per cent animals conceive during this period because of poor nutrition, calf suckling, poor heat detection, stress and pathological conditions which can be improved by balanced nutrition, limited suckling, and heat detection by adopting modern animal husbandry practices.

Poor heat detection is one of the major factors of reproductive inefficiency. The problems related to heat detection in buffaloes are more critical than in cattle. Buffaloes have more tendencies to show heat signs during night i.e., nocturnal behaviour. Using twice daily heat check at 6am and 6pm with the help of a bull could be an effective tool to enhance the reproductive efficiency in a dairy herd.

Improper timing of insemination is another factor responsible for low fertility. Ideally animal should be bred 12 hours after the detection of standing heat, not at the onset. In our field conditions, the onset of heat signs is considered a landmark and the animals are inseminated to follow the morning evening rules.

Synchronization of estrus controlled breeding is an effective tool of improved reproductive management and practices. It could be used to overcome the issues like seasonality, anestrus and long inter calving interval. A project on “Effect of Synchronization, Improved Reproductive Management (IRM) on Reproductive, Productive Potential and Economics in Buffalo Farming” has been funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. The main objectives of this project are to observe the effect of estrus synchronization on resumption of cyclicity and calving rate in summer anestrous buffaloes and to analyze and evaluate the effects of IRM practices on farm economics. Ten commercial buffalo farms around Lahore are registered as case study.

Incidence of reproductive disorders especially in cross-bred cows is very high in our field conditions. The highest incidences are uterine infections, anoestrous, cysts, obstetrical problems and repeat breeding. Pure-bred dairy cows have been imported since long from the western countries to tropical or sub tropical countries for enhanced milk production. They have been either maintained as purebred or crossbred. Their production is high but adaptability, particularly during hot and humid months is compromised. They are more prone to parasitic infestation and their immune system becomes more susceptible.

Similarly, pure or crossbreds maintained in subtropical environment are known to have more reproductive disorders. Among these issues repeat breeding is a source of frustration and economic loss to the farmer. Early identification of animals with reproductive disorders and seeking advice of the veterinary professional should be done in order to minimise the loss.

Implementation of a reproductive programme must be adjusted to specific farm conditions and management goals. Identification of animals, accurate and complete record keeping is a prerequisite to the optimal function of a programme. In our conditions animals are not ear-tagged.

Identified and farm records usually lack, perhaps due to meagre resources, small herd size and lack of education and awareness. Within this framework, data collected must be handled and processed to provide relevant information. This information provides the basis to decision-making. The animals with low production, high age, and health problems, e.g., fibrosis of teat, repeat breeder, and reproductive disorders must be culled and replaced with healthy animals. The culling should be done on regular basis which will enhance the profitability.

Acute shortage of buffalo breeding bulls in our country is one of the major issues. The government should strengthen the progeny testing programmes, calf raising centres and fully functional existing semen production units. The raising of breeding bulls has remained a major activity of the local governments in the past. Private owners should exclusively raise the breeding bulls in each district to overcome these problems.