By Syed Wahaj Ahmed
National and international experts have stressed need for expanding animal breeding improvement programme with a view to achieving far better production and commercial results from milk and meat in the country, while 90% of the country’s livestock is used for domestic rather than commercial purposes.
They said while addressing the three-day “International Symposium and Training Workshop on Caprine Reproduction, Management and Artificial Insemination,” on Wednesday held at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) in collaboration with Sindh Higher Education Commission and Sindh Livestock Department on Wednesday.
Provincial Secretary of Livestock and Fisheries Department Dr Hafeez Ahmed Siyal said that livestock is including its 63% share in total of the agricultural sector in the country’s GDP, yet the health and production of the country’s livestock is not satisfactory, while in collaboration with the university, the experts and graduates are being trained for the genetic improvement of the indigenous breeds of animals and for increasing the production of milk and meat.
Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany Prof Dr Gerhard Schuler said various diseases are found in animals in Sindh, while the SAU and its experts are seriously engaged in the fields of research and academic, and “we will solve problems through transfer of new technology, joint research and capacity building programmes.”
Washington State University, USA Prof Dr Mushtaq A Memon said the Sindh goat has better productivity, but there is some need to improve the breed on a commercial basis, while the survival of better breeds through artificial insemination.
SAU Vice Chancellor Dr Fateh Marri said in order to make live stock beneficial in Sindh and to support the farmers, they are working with the livestock department on various research projects, especially on preserving indigenous species through artificial insemination technology.
He said with the support of the Sindh government, they will establish an animal teaching hospital at the university to provide facilities to livestock owners with house jobs for veterinary graduates.
Hosting the moot, SAU Department of Animal Reproduction Prof Dr Prashotam Khatri, Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar and others spoke.—End.
