THE Punjab government is introducing a law to regulate the surging private breeding services sector stated to be responsible for deteriorating huge livestock genetic potential.
The step, a late attempt by the outgoing government, should have been taken much earlier to control the mushrooming of private production units supplying semen of unknown pedigree to the farmers in the absence of any regulatory mechanism.
Officials say the draft will be tabled in the farewell session of the Punjab Assembly being held by the end of this month.
Livestock sector plays a vital role in the country economy. It contributed 53.2 per cent of value added agriculture and 11.4 per cent of national GDP during 2009-2010. Gross value addition of livestock at current cost sector has increased from Rs1304.56 billion (2008-2009) to Rs1537.5 billion (2009-2010) showing an increase of 17.8 per cent, says the Pakistan Economic Survey (2009-2010).
The main thrust of this sector is in Punjab where the per capita consumption of milk is the highest in the world. And the demand is increasing manifold with the passage of time. The same is also true about the consumption of mutton and beef.Officials say that in view of the potential there is a dire need to improve the number and quality of livestock. Sahiwal breed cows are considered the best in Pakistan. But one cow hardly produces five to10 kilograms of milk at a time. Whereas a cow of in developed country like America, Australia, Canada or Scandinavia produces 30 to 40 kilograms of milk at a time.Officials say that the breeding which is direly needed is being done without following any standards, leading to destruction of local breeds and also producing animals medically unfit for human consumption through unsafe artificial insemination.
They say the Punjab government has been working real hard for enhancing the average productivity of livestock through genetic improvement to cater to the increasing demand of milk and meat. But its efforts have not been successful as it should have been due to lack of legal basis to regulate public and private sector breeding services.Due to non-existence of regulatory framework, mushrooming production units are supplying semen of unknown pedigree resulting in deterioration of livestock genetic potential. Similarly, un-approved training institutes to train the artificial insemination service providers are also cropping up. The duration of training varies from one week to three months whereas the public sector is imparting training of two- year duration.
The result is a crop of untrained and unskilled artificial insemination service providers that is further aggravating the situation through damaging the reproductive system of the breeding animal.
The government of Punjab has, therefore, proposed this bill to regulate breeding services, they say, hoping that the law’s enforcement will help develop an excellent pedigree performance recording system, certified sale of semen and quality services to elevate the reproductive and productive efficiency of livestock.
The draft bill proposes the Livestock Breeding Services Authority whose affairs will be run by the Registrar of the Livestock Breeding Services.
The authority will regulate provision of breeding, and conserve and develop local genetic resources.
It will issue standards and procedures for selection parameters for donor animals at a collection and production facility, parentage confirmation of breeding males before entry at a collection and production facility, farm or any breed improvement programme, and animal registration and milk recording for identification of bull mothers and test mating under a performance recording and genetic evaluation programme.
It will also issue standards for collection and production facilities like equipment requirements, processes and procedures to be employed for extraction, preservation, processing and transport of semen, ova and embryos.
There will be standards for use of semen, ova and embryos, and for artificial insemination technicians. It will specify the form and content of pedigree certificates for animals, semen and ova, zoo technical and health certificates.
The draft law provides for a comprehensive system for regulating the sector, suggesting punishment of up to one year and fine up to Rs100,000 for violations, specifying that only registered enterprises will be able to operate.