HYDERABAD, April 20 A three-day 'Livestock Show' was inaugurated by the Sindh Livestock Minister Mir Abid Hussain Jatoi on Monday. The show, organised by the livestock department in collaboration with the European Union and Hyderabad district government, is the first of its kind in Sindh.

Goats, Red Sindhi cows, Kundi buffaloes, camels, horses and many other animal species were displayed on a ground behind a private hospital, off Jamshoro road.

Cattle parade, horse dance, camel race and dog race enthralled the audience along with a number of stalls disseminating farm-related knowledge, especially about dairy farming and fish farming on cottage industry level.

Farmers, as far as from Nagarparkar and Unnarpur made to the event as the venue was easily accessible from the by-pass, and both National and Super highways.A camel 'Thar Marshal' belonging to Abdul Ghani Khoso won the camel race as it was the fastest running camel of Thar. Camel, being ship of the desert, are the most important mode of transportation in Thar desert in addition to a war-time vehicle 'kekra', carrying both people and cattle alike.

Another camel 'Dil Rupa' of Wali Mohammad Shah from Nagarparkar was also the target of attention. Wali Mohammad Shah owns the camel and also produces millet and corn on his 200 acres. There were also Australian bull species brought by a Karachi-based owner.

An equestrian from Faisalabad entertained the audience by bringing in six local horse breeds which he takes to shows in Punjab and the NWFP, also.

Sindh's Kundi buffaloes well known for producing around 28 litres rich milk daily, were brought by big farmers. In addition, Ghoshi and Bhilli too, are well-known species for quality milk production.

There was also a model farm set up by the Pakistan Dairy Development Company (PDDC) — a project of Ministry of Industries under Special Initiative — for promotion of modernized farming to encourage small farmers. The federal government bears 50 per cent cost of such farms with farmers footing 50 per cent in three year's installments. The proposed fencing separates portions for milking animal, calf and expectant animal. Water troughs for mature animals and buckets for calf feeding were also available. The importance of showering terminals for maintaining temperature of farm for cow and buffalo was demonstrated along with easy access to cattle even under the shed.

The conventional method of dairy farming was producing unhygienic milk, said farm production adviser, Juryal Shah. However, the taste of our milk was the best, he added.

Sindh Secretary Livestock Mir Mohammad Parhyar said that the Red Sindhi cow was on the verge of extinction due to cross-breeding which originally comes from Malir in Karachi, Thana Bula Khan and Jhimpir.

Imran Abdani from Thatta said that the cow has strong resistance and gets easily acclimatized to different conditions and fodder. “It gives up to 15 litre milk twice in a day”, he said. According to Parhiyar the model farm would be replicated at village and community level as 90 per cent farmers own five or less than five animals.

He added that the Sindh government would soon launch a dairy and Development Company to strengthen farming at grass-root level. “According to the USAID report, milk production in Sindh was higher than any other province”, he said.

Sindh Fisheries Inland Department arranged a model fish farm to stress its importance as a cottage industry. Proper guidance and literature was available for preparation of dykes, slopes of fish ponds and avoiding water seepage. Aerators' provision was proposed to ensure oxygen from outside for fish if these were in large quantity in a small farm.

“We also suggested “fish cadge” near the embankments of any lake or reservoir for fishermen so that they could take advantage of it”, said director fisheries Ghulam Mujtaba. He said that there few precautions were necessary in fish farming.

HEAT Hot and humid conditions with mercury rising to 41.5 degree centigrade prevented people from visiting the show. The dusty winds blowing all day long kept visitors at bay on the first day of the show. This realization forced the host to announce of organizing the next year show in February or March.