Scientists carrying out research to enhance meat and milk production and prevent diseases in animals should also provide balanced diet to the animals because a balanced diet is essential for better breeding and production.
These views were expressed by Livestock (Extension) Director General Dr Sajjad Zaheer Malik at a "cow mela" arranged under the banner of project for protection of Sahiwal breed of cow.
The project was initiated by the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department at a cost of Rs 90 million. According to information wing of the Punjab Livestock Department the fair was held in a village of district Toba Tek Singh.
Director General Livestock (Extension) Dr Sajjad Zaheer Malik said majority of rural population rely on livestock for its livelihood.
"The Punjab government has allocated Rs 1,431 million current year to promote this sector by setting up veterinary hospitals at the union council level and mobile veterinary dispensaries at the tehsil level to provide treatment facilities to livestock farmers at their door-steps," he said. He advised the farmers to rear 'Sahiwal cow' because of its qualities like; better milk and meat production besides resistance against diseases and provision of imbalanced diet.
Dr Sajjad also disclosed that the government was seriously considering to enforce Section 144 to stop wheat husk to kilns since it was creating hardships for provision of husk for animal fodder. He said the government was also taking steps to provide molasses in animal fodder.
Giving more detail about the fair, the project Director, Dr Javed Iqbal said 'cow fairs' were being arranged in different areas. This year four such gatherings would be arranged and till date 19 such events had been arranged.
Due to qualities of this breed, the cows were being reared in 29 different countries while 20 more species had been developed out of this breed. He said in Pakistan number of this breed was decreasing due to increasing tendency of cross breeding.
Nevertheless, under the project, 10,000 such animals had been registered and allotted numbers. While over 2,000 Sahiwal cows were in government livestock farms. Project was extending free of cost advise for vaccination, artificial insemination and farming of this breed to the livestock farmers while newly born calf of this breed was also being purchased on good prices.