Pakistan can enhance milk production by managing the nutrition of its milk-giving animals in a scientific way. Tilak R. Dhilman, Associate Professor on Dairy Nutrition in Utah State University, USA stated this while addressing a training programme arranged by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) on the role of dairy nutrition and management to improve animal well-being and performance.
Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development, Punjab, Sultan Tiwana, General Manager, Business and Sectoral Development Services, Alamgir Chaudhry, Provincial Chief Smeda-Punjab, Arshad Hussain Hashmi, Manager, Livestock and Dairy sector, Smeda and Shahnawaz Janjua, Consultant, American Soybean Association also addressed the participants on this occasion.
Dr Tilak Dhilman disclosed that 35 million people in Pakistan were associated with Dairy and Livestock sector as compared to USA, where 6 million people were engaged in the agriculture sector as a whole.
He said that economic reliance of rural population on Dairy and Livestock sector has led Pakistan as the third largest milk-producing country in the world. The Dairy and Livestock sector now needs to have more attention of both the government and private sectors in Pakistan for its up-gradation on modern lines, he added.
He further disclosed that cost of milk production in Pakistan was the lowest one in the world. The cost of per litre milk in Pakistan was Rs 13-17 as compared to America and India where the cost of per litre milk was Rs 19 and Rs 18, respectively, he said.
Dr Tilak Dhilman laid special emphasis on free access to water for animals during 24 hours besides providing them the quality food. He said that appropriate and convenient availability of water round the clock can increase production of milk in the animals.