Dairy Industry of Pakistan

Abstract

The livestock sector alone contributes 11% of Pakistan’s GDP, with an estimated 42 billion litres of milk produced per annum. Economic Survey of Pakistan 2009 assertions that Pakistan has a herd size of around 63 million animals – the 3rd largest in the world. After witnessing all the issues regarding the dairy industry of Pakistan, it can be concluded that the dairy industry possesses potential of growth and is very important from economic perspective. The major problem with dairy farming in Pakistan is the low milk yields of Pakistani cattle and buffaloes. This low production potential of Pakistani animals is mainly attributable to a few clearly identifiable issues such as lack of a systematic national breed improvement program, lack of availability of good quality fodder and nutrients and poor farm management practices. On average a dairy animal in Pakistan yields 6-8 times less milk than a dairy animal of the developed world. So Pakistan needs to have a coordinated and integrated strategy/approach beginning from enhancing per animal productivity, going straight to milk procedures/procurement and minimize the wastage.

Keywords: Dairy Industry, Pakistan, Milk, Productivity, per animal productivity, livestock, farm management practices