HYDERABAD: Veterinary and agricultural experts have said that climate change is no longer an environmental concern alone, it is threatening the country’s livestock sector, food security and rural livelihoods.

Indigenous animal and bird species are declining, they said, adding that despite possessing rich resources and valuable indigenous breeds, Pakistan annually imports over 500,000 cattle and one million semen doses which, according to them, is ‘alarming’.

They were speaking at the inaugural seminar on “Climate Change and its Impact on Animal Health” held under Green Veterinary Drive 2025 organised by the Veterinary Business and Entrepreneurship Society of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (FAVS), Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, on Tuesday.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that climate change is no longer an environmental concern but a direct threat to livestock, farmers and national economy.

He noted that Sindh is the most climate-affected province where devastating floods 2010 and 2022 have destroyed millions of houses and crops. He claimed that the crisis threatens millions of livestock, causing irreparable damage to rural livelihoods.

Rising heat, water scarcity, fodder shortages and recurrent floods directly undermine animal health and productivity. Livestock health is not merely a veterinary issue, it is a national concern tied to food security, poverty reduction, and economic stability, he stressed.

Former VC Dr Fateh Marri said livestock contributes over 60pc cent to agriculture and plays a key role in GDP growth through milk, meat and related products.

However, climate-induced variations in rainfall and temperature are making livestock farming increasingly difficult. “We must adopt dynamic strategies to adapt to these changes. Seminars and workshops like this are critical to preparing livestock industry for future challenges,” he added.

Dean Dr Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah Rashdi said that livestock is a major source of income for the rural middle class with women playing a crucial role. He said that veterinary students continue to contribute significantly to community livelihoods despite the mounting challenges of climate change.

A noted veterinary scientist, Prof Dr Zaheer Ahmed Nizamani, while discussing ‘Climate Change and Livestock Health/Production in Pakistan: from Physiology to Policy’, cautioned that the Pakistan’s livestock sector with over 60pc share in agricultural value-addition and nearly 12pc of GDP is at “severe risk” due to the climate change.

He said Pakistan is on the frontline of the crisis with temperatures rising faster than global average. Over one million animals died in the 2022 floods, he said. The sector is shifting rapidly from smallholder farming to large-scale commercial mega-farms, he said, adding that these farms while catering to urban demand are threatening hardy indigenous breeds such as Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Tharparkar increasingly being replaced by exotic breeds like Holstein Friesian.

“This genetic reshuffling was undermining biodiversity and posing serious risks to food security,” he warned. He added that Pakistan already faces a 37pc national protein deficit in animal feed while heat stress has reduced milk production by 10–30pc.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2025