Reported by: Muhammad Basil (Dairy Scientist,
FAH, UAF)Coverage by: Muhammad Haris (Dairy Scientist,
FAH, UAF)Insta: mh10s_photography
On the 1st of Sep 2020, an international and interactive session held at Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. In this seminar scientists, progressive farmers, professors participated and international speakers and students joined it online due to current COVID-19 situation. This session was very informative and motivational for beginners as the success stories were also told in it. In this report, we shall brief shortly about the speakers on dice and their views.
This seminar was meant to address the challenges faced by milk and meat sector.
Start of the seminar:
This seminar was hosted by Dr Muhammad Saif-ur-Rehman at 10:30 AM.
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| Dr Saif Ur Rehman (Animal Breeding & Genetics) |
The seminar started with the recitation of some verses from the Holy Book Quran by Hafiz Rasheed. The Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool was recited by Miss. Shakeela.
Dean FAH:
The dean of Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Dr Muhammad Aslam Mirza welcomed the all worthy guests and apologized for the ones who couldn’t be invited due to the current pandemic situation.
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| Dean FAH Prof. Aslam Mirza |
He said that the value of agriculture is nothing without livestock. And poultry has become a long-rooted tree in this sector. The number of trends in this sector is increasing. In the end, the students of FAH were appreciated for their hard work to manage this interactive seminar.
Dr Younas (Ex-dean FAH):
Past mistakes should be reformed and Agriculture based AH is necessary.
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| Dr Younas on the right |
VC UAF:
Vice-Chancellor of UAF Dr Ashraf gave opening remarks to the seminar. He said that this topic is very vital as the livestock to agriculture has a major share in the GDP of Pakistan. He advised faculty members and professors to learn from progressive farmers and teach students by the practical work. Just management and careful selection of breed should be focused. He raised a question in front of participants that why to focus exotic breed and where is our gene pool?
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| Dr M Ashraf VC UAF |
VC advised students to bring initiatives in their relevant fields. As UAF is a pioneer in starting an online system of studies among other 270 universities in the country. UAF started online classes from 24th of March in the existence of many challenges. If Pakistan does less import and more export then we can sustain our economy.
Participants:
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| Dr Bakth Baidar Khan in audience |
Different scientists, teachers, businessmen, progressive farmers, experts, students and faculty members joined the seminar with social distancing and other joined through an online system. In guests, VC Agriculture D.I University Dr Masood Ullah Babar, Mr Azam of Sahiwal Cattle Association and CRO BRI Dr Masood also participated in the seminar. Among faculty members, Dr Bakht Baidar Khan, Dr Younas, Dr Riaz Virk, Dr Yaqoob, Dr Yousaf, Dr Aziz-ur-Rehman, Dr Ashraf, Dr M. Lateef, Dr Asad Ullah Haider, Dr Safdar Hassan, Dr Hassan Nawaz, Dr Fawad and many other teachers joined the seminar by utilizing the advantage of the online system.
Hamid Dairy Farm:
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| Brig. (R) Hamid Khalil's interview to media |
Brigadier (R) Hamid Khalil CEO of Hamid Dairy farm addressed the seminar on dice. He told that 16 years ago he was retired as a brigade commander in 2004 and after the retirement, he started the dairy farming with 50 Holstein cows imported from Australia and now he owns the farm strength of 400 cattle. He didn’t have a rural background and owned almost 12-13 acres of land in Qasoor which was in the waterlogged area. His visit to a ghee unit in Lahore motivated him to do some business after the retirement. Then he met a person from Chakwal city who made feasibility of fifty cows on a piece of paper. After he left Brig. Hamid studied the paper and tore it into two parts thinking that person was just exaggerating.
After the retirement now his challenge was the selection of breed for his farm. Then he considered that he must work on the Sahiwal cattle. But when he looked into the statistics he found that govt. farms had an average of 4 litres, national farms had avg. of 3 litres and Australian farms had avg. of 15 litres. He also studied that with the increase in population the demand is increasing. Therefore he chose the crossbred model for his future farm because when he visited Sabz farm of nestle a vet. The doctor advised him that if at the end of the day you have to go for an exotic breed so why not start with it now?
Brig. (R) Hamid told that he possessed the qualities of strength, planning, management and forward-looking approach which he learned in the service of Pakistan Military Forces. Therefore, he started visiting dairy farms such as Sharif dairy farm in Chinot. He said, ‘’I never visited mega-dairy farms so that my mind does not get corrupted’’. He learned that cow comfort is the basic and primary thing. Floor and the slope must be considered so he decided the brick line floor for his farm to prevent the hoof issues. He started the construction of his farm and didn’t involve a contractor. He advised constructing the farm of Holstein cattle before bringing him because he has seen many cattle dying by running after they are set free hereafter the import.
After making the housing arrangements, Brig. (R) Hamid went to Australia to select the cattle himself. There he was referred to Mr Peter for the selection of animals. But he refused and preferred to select animals himself. Because one must not trust anybody when investing. He learned and studied about the selection of cattle and selected cattle himself. He selected 50 animals for himself and selected 50 animals of his friend. Then he photographed all the animals so that he assures the import of actual animals. Also investigated the tags and their parental records.
When the cattle had their 1st calving, he could only get 6 heifers and other males. Which was very disappointing for him. So his son suggested him to bring 50 more cattle from Australia. He implemented the ‘’invest and reserve’’ policy learned in Pakistan Army. Because he could buy 100 cows at once but he brought only 50 cattle and kept money in reserve for other 50 cattle. So he went again to Australia to select the cattle there he got a dispute with the Mr Richard of Ostrich Company because Brig. (R) Hamid wanted to select animals himself whereas Mr Richard got angry over this. So Brig. Hamid said to Mr Richard, ‘’Give me my money back, I shall not buy a single animal’’. Then Mr Richard came into line and after changing his tune he asked Brig. Hamid that what does he want? Then Brig. Hamid said, ‘’Mr Richard please go back to your car’’. And he selected 30 animals instead of fifty animals. They were imported to Pakistan. 1st year calving resulted in 16 to 17 litres average production but the predicted feasibility was 20 litres avg. production. On this issue Brig. Hamid says that companies gave him to lose. Due to cat management, he lost no. of animals. As these multinational and national companies sale several products which are not useful at all the time. Just be simple and have simple management practices. He said that a veterinarian also gave him loss due to his ill practices, so now he prefers an animal husbandry’s graduated because he understands the needs of a cattle and how to keep it in the comfort. His investment is cow’s comfort which is a commercial venture and goal is to have a healthy herd. And he advises that to focus on the comfort of the cow because if the cow is in comfort then its production will increase. He was successful by hands-on and learned HRM.
He is getting good milk even on the 7th lactation. Now his farm avg. production is 15-25 litres. He feeds silage and Wanda throughout the year. He stores the grains and formulates his own Wanda now. He learned alpha toxins, other diseases and concepts then worked in the breed development, which reduced his farm’s medical bills. They used to supply milk to nestle but nestle just keep the farmers to breathe and don’t give them adequate profit. Then a visitor from Belgium came and suggested him to sell milk at the doorstep. He managed some bikes and men who used to supply milk at doorsteps. Then he introduced his own processed milk by the name of ‘’Gala Doodh’’. And now they are manufacturing different by-products as yoghurt, green cheese and kheer etc. They sale 1200 litres of milk per day and declares social media an effective tool for awareness and marketing.
In the end, he advises, ‘’comfort your livestock, never leaves it on a veterinary doctor and do proper bedding’’.
Livestock & Dairy Development Authority:
Sheikh Muhammad Naik from L&DDA requested participants to leave telling a lie just focus on the work. We made several mistakes in the past and showed carelessness but now we should reform ourselves. Participants appreciated his remarks.
Online video briefing of Professor Yachun Wang:
An international speaker from Agriculture University Beijing, China joined the online seminar. She briefed about the dairy development and working in China through the presentation on ‘’Selection of Dairy Cattle’’.
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| Professor Yachun Wang online presentation |
In 1840s foreign breeds were imported to China for the first time. China had a survey in 1986 which showed that there were 28 domestic breeds in China which were not dairy breed. Formal importation of exotic breeds started in 1970 China Dairy Association was developed in 1983. Bovine frozen semen is so in China and dairy bulls are borne mostly from embryo transfer technology. Large scale farms are the target in China. Milk test DHI (Dairy Herd Improvement) to get the data. The ideal type of Holstein Cow 1985; Genetic trends for milk performance.
The presentation of Dr Yachun Wang was very informative and inspiring, showing how China progressed in the field of dairy and now owns the world largest dairy farm.
Solve Agri. (Pak):
Dr M Aleem Bhatti of Solve Agri. (Pak) addressed the seminar and gave a positive motivation to future farmers and current farmers. He said that commercial dairy sector is a dream without an exotic breed. Agriculture department must join this sector because it’s necessary now for sustaining the fodder development. We are importing milk due to the demand pressure.
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| Dr M Aleem Bhatti |
There are four types of dairy farming;
1. Traditional Dairy farming
2. Peri-Urban Dairy farming
3. Commercial Dairy farming
4. Cooperative Dairy farming
The debate about the buffalo versus cattle is not as productive as the price of buffalo milk in 1992 was Rs. 11/litre and now in the year 2020 it Rs. 150/litre. So if the cross-bred cows have increased then similarly the price of buffalo milk is also increased. As the broiler hen increased the price of desi hen. Therefore, business is a separate thing. In the dairy farming sector, subsistence to commercial the worth is high of the valuable item present in a lesser amount.
For the evolution of cooperating dairy farming in Pakistan, there should be an increase in milk consumption and skilled manpower should be supplied. In recent 13 years, 61,000 cows have been imported to Pakistan. Automation in milk handling and storage must be adopted but man having the experience of hand milking can handle the milking machine. As life doesn’t stop and continuously goes on so take up the knowledge as there is survival of the fittest. We need to feed our children animal proteins in schools for this instance ‘’School feed (lunch) program’’ is the best option. If we feed students eggs and milk and aware them about their nutritional importance, then they will be our future customers. India has a good degree policy that they issue diploma and certificates after 1 or 2 year short courses and students don’t have to wait for 4 years to get the degree so HEC and university must consider that policy. If there is a problem with Holstein & Jersey on one farm then it doesn’t mean that it will have the same problem on the other farm. Bulls of Sahiwal breed give us a good profit in the Eid days.
Asif Tanveer (A progressive farmer):
Feed fattening is a combination of science and experience. Business strategies must be adopted.
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| Mr Asif Tanveer presenting to the audience |
Body scoring should be preferred while adopting animals. An animal with low body scoring will become ill and take the farm into the loss. Do not hire the veterinarian who is only expert in injecting medicines instead adopt good management practices. In beef animals, the distance to market and the slaughterhouse should be considered.
If someone has the advantage of land so he must grow the cheap and nutritious fodders like Rhode grass, maat grass and alfalfa. Non-conventional feed resources like sugar beet pulp, potatoes and bakery by-products should also be fed to livestock. Mr Asif Tanveer says that he started from 200 animals and now he is running the farm of 1000 animals. He recommends having 70-80% investment on the feed of animals
Exhibition:
Exhibition held at the Expo centre, UAF in which different companies presented their stalls and the guests had their lunch.
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| CRO Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki |
Conclusion:
This seminar was very fruitful for students, especially who want to start entrepreneurship. It is requested to the department that these type of seminars should be arranged openly for students who are the future of this sector. Our students still lack confidence and lack of security regarding their future. And the inspiring stories can open a gateway for new businessmen. Our researchers must share the Chinese success stories in the dairy sector with the students. Only theoretical and practical knowledge is not enough, although mental training should be focused to survive in the competition.
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