Dairy hub modernizes farming in Punjab

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Dairy Hub modernizes farming in Punjab

Fakhra Hassan, for Spirit Magazine, Tetra Pak

The Pakistani livestock sector, worlds 3rd

largest milk producer is at a nerve-wrecking

crossroads with some bright prospects ahead, especially for Punjab the countrys largest

contributor to the national milk production volume. According to the Livestock & Dairy

Development Board (LDDB), Punjabs share of contribution to milk production is above 72 per

cent. However, the nerve-wrecking facts are that 95 per cent of the milk produced is in the

hands of the loose market which is not accounted for in the GDP that currently stands at a

miniscule 11 per cent. Only 3.5 per cent of the milk is being sold in packaged form. Additionally,

Pakistan has the worlds lowest yield per animal, high animal mortality rate as well as the

lowest number of animals per farm, says the Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock

(MINFAL).

The question is: what is keeping the 3rd

largest milk producer from realizing its full economic

potential? According to a study conducted by Dr Jude Capper Dale Bauman of Cornell

University, and Roger Cady, former researcher for Monsanto, the comparison between modern

dairy farming and traditional dairy systems of the 1940s in the US lead to some thoughtful

answers to the dilemma in Pakistan.

For the comparison, researchers used a deterministic model based on the metabolism and

nutrient requirements of the dairy herd. Both the modern and traditional production systems

were modeled using characteristic management practices, herd population dynamics and

production data from the dairy farms.

The findings suggested that modern dairy practices require considerably fewer resources than

traditional dairy systems of the 1940s with 21 per cent of animals, 23 per cent of fodder, 35 per



cent of the water and only 10 per cent of the land required to produce the same one billion

litres of milk.

In the 1940s, the US dairy population totaled 26 million cows with an annual milk production of

53.6 billion litres. By contrast, researchers say the 2007 US herd population comprised of 9.2

million cows with an annual milk production of 83.2 billion litres.

The research says that modern dairy industry produced 59 per cent more milk using 64 per cent

fewer cows. One of the major reasons for this bright disparity is that in contrast to traditional

dairy farming, modern dairy farming is characterized by use of calculated proportions

formulated to fulfill nutrition requirements, herd health, management programmes and

facilities designed to minimize stress and maximize production.

Pakistan is home to 56 million cows and buffaloes with an annual milk production of 36.6 billion

litres. The country is transitioning from traditional to modern farming practices and the good

news is that some of the major industrial players in modern dairy technology have taken a bold

initiative to reach out to small farm owners across the rural areas.

There is progress in some parts of the world, and in some parts there isnt. The basic reasons

are lack of education, lack of new skills and awareness of new technology. If we know these

things, we can do tasks in a much more effective way and faster, said Azhar Ali Syed, Managing

Director for Tetra Pak Pakistan at the inauguration ceremony of Community Veterinary Hospital

at the Dairy Hub at Kassowal in District Sahiwal, Punjab in late November this year. We are

also citizens of this country and have a responsibility to share the knowledge acquired from

experience with our fellow country people.

Tetra Pak has been working in Pakistan for the last 27 years promoting hygienic . The company,

in early 2009, came up with an excellent solution of establishing Dairy Hubs in the rural areas

where these problems could be addressed. It is worthwhile to therefore examine how far the





y Conception rate

y Calving interval

y Herd lactation %age

y Ratio of AI to Natural Service

y Abortion/Embryonic Loss %age

y Mortality Rate %age

y Milk production cost per litre

y Breeding and disease history

y Vaccination & De-worming history

y Free water access

y Ratio of AI to Natural Service

According to Engro, so far 12,000 animals have been tagged. The software will enable experts

to learn how each one of them is doing health and nutrition wise.

Traditional farming is still very popular in Pakistan. There are protocols and procedures to

manage animals. We need to provide them with calculated feed according to their weight. Our

farmers need immense education and grassroots training on these things, Dr Farrukh Saeed of

Engro Dairy Hub told Spirit Magazine.

Inauguration ceremony at Kassowal

The foundation laying ceremony at Kassowal was well-received by the hardworking farmers of

Kassowal, a rural area known for its clean roadways and Orange farms. Several farmers were

awarded prizes and certificates from Tetra Pak for best practices in modern farming which was

followed by folk performances and horse shows by the locals that added colour to the

inauguration ceremony.



Technology transfer at Engro Dairy Hub Kassowal on 24 November, 2009

y Tetra Pak awards silage machine

y Tetra Pak awards milking machine

y Tetra Pak inaugurates the Dairy Hub Community Hall

y Tetra Pak inaugurates Veterinary Hospital

In the last 5 months farmers have had hands-on training on

y Rural Sociology

y Crop Production & Storage

y Farm Machinery

y Farm Planning

y Cattle Housing

y Calf Rearing

y Ruminant Nutrition

y Genetics & Breeding

y Reproduction & Health

y Artificial Insemination

y Hand & Machine Milking

y Hoof Care

y Farm Business & Personnel Management

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Dairy hub modernizes farming in Punjab