The daily per capita protein intake in Pakistan is quite low. The protein requirement of an adult person is 27 grams with availability of only 17 grams in cities, and less in backward areas.

The main sources of protein are crops and animals i.e., pulses, vegetables, gram, meat, milk and eggs. Protein from animals is economical and rich. Meat and milk are more palatable, nutritious and easily digestible, if pure and of good quality. Both are highly perishable, especially in summers.

In the absence of proper processing, these are used fresh. The perishable nature of milk helped in establishing three to four processing plants in the country. For meat, there is, as yet, no technology in sight. While, internationally there are two types of techniques for meat processing one is the Chinese style and the other European.

In the first instance meat is processed in powder or semi-liquid state and its preservation power is increased up to six months and it is 75-80 per cent cooked and ready to eat in few minutes.

While, in European style the meat is increased in quantity i.e., one to two kilograms by adding gel and other required ingredients of meat and can be kept for 24 hours at 4oC. The Chinese are providing training in the technology in Beijing at the China Meat Research Centre, established by Jica.

The Chinese say that if one wants to export meat, he should go for processing and for processing he should go for mechanical and hygienic slaughtering, from there to meat farming or feed lot unit for which knowing the breed is a must.

Through processing, the quality of meat is increased by putting required ingredients to increase its palatability, nutrition, taste digestibility, colour and flavour. In 2004 the livestock population in Sindh of buffaloes was 8.761 million, cattle 7.195 million, sheep 4.906 million, and goats 13.038 million.

A fast growing cattle breed on good management and proper feeding is available mainly in districts Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Badin, and Tharparkar. Per capita availability of milk is 80.45 litres, beef 07.67kg, mutton 04.55kg, poultry meat 04.09kg, eggs 7.5 dozens, and fish 1.5kg.

For meat production farming of animals may be started in the first phase. The country lacks such methods which can be initiated by rearing buffalo calves. Daily about 1,000 male calves - three to four days' old - are slaughtered in Karachi, only.

These are the products of dairy farms which is increasing day by day. Dairy farmers, due to some reasons, are not interested in rearing these calves. These male buffalo calves can be reared up to the age of 18-20 months - suitable slaughtering age for quality meat.

There are about three million breeding cows of Tharparkar and Kankrej breed at Tharparkar, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Sanghar. Every year about 5-8 lakh male calves aged 10-12 months can be made available. Tharparkar breed is the best breed for meat farming.

Its average growth is around one kilogramme per day, if managed and fed properly. Weak animals of Thari and Kundhi breed may be purchased from the livestock markets of Sindh and if fed properly for three months could produce good quality meat. Sheep and goat breeding farms may be established.

Male progeny may be fattened and sent for slaughtering at the age of 10-12 months while females could be added to the breeding flock. At present there is no proper slaughter house where meat visceral organs and blood could be collected, hygienically.

The Hyderabad Slaughter House can start on hygienic conditions along with establishing such places in Karachi, Thatta, Sanghar, Umerkot, Sukkur, and Jacobabad, as well. It is essential to keep the meat below 4xC, while distribution and sale too, is carried out at the same temperature. Being highly perishable, it starts rotting after some time.

Therefore, it is essential to establish meat processing technology (Chinese Style), after which wholesale business of meat can be carried out. Exports can also be made.

Integrated meat production is a good business. Karachi is a big market. With good meat quality, the per day requirement of 20,000 small and large animals is not sufficient. Meat farming is profitable than the dairy business, if planned properly. It is essential to improve the livestock markets.

There are more than 100 markets in Sindh dealing with the livestock without any facility or supervision. The government should, if not for all, for big markets - Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Dadu and Badin - provide weighing machines, sheds, fodder and water facilities and replace the old weighing system with the new one. All this will facilitate farmers in rearing their livestock in a more healthy way.

Meat is a bye-product of dairy farming. There, at times is the meat of culled animals, immature calves, weaker lots, all unfit for consumption. In Karachi high yielding dry buffaloes are slaughtered, as the owners of such farms lack space and proper training to salvage them.

This practice is going on for 20 years which is depriving the country of the livestock wealth. Due to the rising cost, buffaloes have gone beyond the reach of poor farmers.

The Karachi market is expanding as daily requirement of milk now is 8 million litres and meat about 620 metric tons. The growth rate is 0.25 per cent.Services should be started in specific arid and semi-arid areas by establishing meat development centres, extension services, breed improvement techniques, parasites control methods, coordination among commercial institutes and the NG0s for credit, and other technical aspects. Control of parasites will increase production by 20 to 30 per cent.