The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) will extent all out support to farmers who want to protect the Sahiwal cattle breed. It comprises about 11 per cent of the total 36 per cent pure-bred animals in the country.
This was stated by UVAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz while addressing at a national seminar on "Sahiwal Cattle -A promising dairy animal of Pakistan" organised by department of livestock production in collaboration with Pakistan Agriculture Research council and Australian Linkages Programme on Thursday at Ravi campus.
Research Centre Conservation Sahiwal Cattle (RCCSC) Jhang Director Dr Javed Iqbal, Livestock Production Research Institute bahdur Nagar, Okara Director Dr Rashid Ahmed, UVAS livestock production Chairman Professor Dr Muhammad Abdullah, Dr Jalees Ahmad Bhatti, Dr Khaild Javed and Dr Ahmad Ali gave detailed presentation about the Sahiwl Cattle's characteristic.
Earlier, UVAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz said that the pure-bred population is decreasing over the years due to crossbreeding. It needs to preserve the pride of Pakistan under the guideline of embryo transfer technology and using the modern reproduction technology.
Dr Muhammad Nawaz said that Higher Education Commission (HEC) has accorded approval to set up 'Business Incubation Centre' in university of Peshawar, National University of Science and Technology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. He said that such a center would provide innovative research into finished products to cater the local industry needs.
Dean faculty of animal and production technology Professor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that Sahiwal is one of the established milk breed of tropical & sub tropical region. It is famous for resistant to ticks and other diseases, tolerant towards heat and has high producing ability under harsh environment adding that this breed is now reported to be present in 29 countries across the globe. They were also introduced to Australia Jamaica, Guyana, Burundi, Somalia, Kenya, Sierra Leone Nigeria and Sri Lanka due its value dairy animal. Dr Pasha said "we are taking research on nucleus herd of elite Sahiwal cow to study for genetic improvement of the breed.
Later the speakers chalked out a strategy to preserve the Sahiwal cattle under the following recommendations including performance recording for genetic evaluation and herd management, conducting research in conservation and genetics and collaboration with national and international institutions involved in breed development programmes.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.