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A Study on Feed Stuffs Role in Enhancing the Productivity of Milch Animals in

Pakistan-Existing Scenario and Future Prospect

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DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2015.14.01.91188

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Global Veterinaria 14 (1): 23-33, 2015
ISSN 1992-6197
© IDOSI Publications, 2015
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2015.14.01.91188

A Study on Feed Stuffs Role in Enhancing the Productivity of

Milch Animals in Pakistan- Existing Scenario and Future Prospect

Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, Asif Iqbal, Nadeem Akbar,

Haroon Zaman Khan and Rana Nadeem Abbas

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Agriculture Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

Abstract: Agriculture sector serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy by contributing 21.4% to national
GDP. The share of livestock sector in agricultural GDP is more than 11%. Pakistan is blessed with 39.7 million
heads of cattle and 34.6 million buffalos. The gross milk production in Pakistan is around 51 million tons which
is not sufficient enough to meet the needs of over 182 million masses. The productivity of milch animals in
Pakistan is much low as compared to their known high potential. Under nourishment is one of the key factors
behind poor performance of milch animals. Roughages and concentrate constitute the feed resources but dairy
animals are deficient by 29 and 33% in total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) respectively.
There is a dire need to initiate a breeding program to produce quality seed of forage crops and an extension
program should be launched to make farmers aware of latest production technology of forage crops. Forage
trees such as moringa must be incorporated into the forage supply chain. Rangelands are needed to be
protected from overuse and a governing body needs to be constituted to manage the rangelands on scientific
basis to enhance the milk production by improving the productivity of milch animals.

Key words: Dry roughages Feed resources Forages and fodders Moringa Rangelands

INTRODUCTION goat and camel but cattle and buffalo are considered as
major dairy animals. These dairy animals are also used as
Livestock are the natural factories to convert draught and beef animals. When a dairy animal has spent
roughage like grasses and shrubs into quality food her productive life and becomes uneconomical for milk
products such as milk and meat for human beings. It is a production then she is used as a beef animal. Male calves
well-known and an established nutritional fact that of dairy animals and dairy bulls when no further required
animal proteins are superior to vegetable proteins as far for breeding purposes are also utilized for beef purposes.
as the supply of essential amino acids is concerned [1]. Pakistan is endowed with 39.7 million heads of cattle, 34.6
Milk, meat, wool, hair, bones, fat, blood, hides and skins million buffalo, 21.9 million sheep and 66.6 million goats
are some of livestock products but milk and meat are taken with total milk and meat production of 51 and 3.5 million
as major livestock products. For a large population of rural tons respectively. Buffalos found in Pakistan make up
household in rain-fed agricultural production system in 47% of Pakistan's major dairy animal’s population and
Pakistan, livestock provide security against crops failure. provide more than about 61% of the total milk produced
For the poor masses in the villages, livestock especially in the country [3]. Buffalo breeds found in Pakistan are
the milch animals have taken the form of social security Nili Ravi, Kundi and Aza Kheli. Nili Ravi is considered to
because of their potential to be cashed at the time of need. be the best buffalo breed in the world and is known as
Livestock are also used in sports and entertainment and Black Gold of Pakistan. Cattle constitute about 53% of the
also considered as a symbol of prestige in certain areas national livestock population in Pakistan and contribute
of Pakistan. Pakistan is 3rd largest milk producing country almost 35% to the total milk production in country. The
in the world [2]. Milk is produced by buffalo, cattle, sheep, cattle breeds found in the country are Sahiwal, Cholistani,

Corresponding Author: Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Agriculture Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan.
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 Global Veterinaria, 14 (1): 23-33, 2015

Red Sindhi, Achai, Bhagnari, Dajal, Dhanni, Gibrali,

Kankraj, Lohani, Rojhan and Thari. Out of these, Sahiwal,
Cholistani and Red Sindhi are main dairy breeds and well
known internationally due to their distinct characteristics
[4, 5]. Goat is considered as poor man's cow. Some rural
and urban people keep goats and sheep and use their milk
for domestic consumption. The same is true about certain
nomads who raise camels and use their milk to meet family
needs. Some camel-men when in peri-urban situation, sell
milk in urban areas. Certain breeds of camels in Pakistan
have the potential to be called as dairy animals, but being
slow breeders they remained ignored since long. More Fig. 1: Livestock population (million) in Pakistan.
than 96% of the milk produced in Pakistan comes from
cattle and buffalo. The rest of it is collectively produced
by sheep, goat and camel which, most of the time, is not
sold as such, rather mixed with buffalo and cow milk. It
has been revealed that animals in Pakistan are getting 29%
and 56.5% less nutrients regarding their required TDN and
DP, respectively. It is reported that livestock are getting
39.41 and 56.66% less in their TDN and DCP (digestible
crude protein) requirements, respectively [6]. Akram [7]
reported that livestock in Pakistan are 25 and 40%
deficient in required amount of TDN and DCP,
respectively. Hanjra et al . [8] and Heydari et al . [9] Fig. 2: Gross milk production (million tons) in Pakistan.
estimated that approximately 63.2 million tons of TDN and
5.53 million tons of DCP are required. Only then a dairy
animal can maintain its best production potential. Sarwar
et al . [10, 11] reported that 10.92 and 90.36 MT of CP and
TDN respectively are required for livestock annually in
Pakistan. However, respective availability of these
nutrients is only 6.7 and 69.00 MT, which indicates a
deficiency of 4.22 and 21.36 MT of CP and TDN,
respectively, per year. The matter of fact is that animals
are getting only their maintenance requirements. It is
because of this reason that animals are not achieving and
exploiting their best production. Fig. 3: Share of cattle and buffalo in gross milk
This study provides a comprehensive review of production in Pakistan.
animal feed resources of Pakistan, existing scenario of
different feedstuffs and future prospect regarding feed cattle (Fig. 3) despite the fact that cattle population is
resources in order to increase the productivity of milch more than buffalo population which shows that buffalo
animals in terms of milk production. productivity is more than cattle.
Livestock Population and Milk Production Trends:
The number of large ruminants (cattle and buffalo) as well Production Systems: Till late eighties, more than 60% of
as small ruminants (sheep and goat) population in buffaloes and some cows were maintained under the
Pakistan has increased over the time. In 2013-2014, the system of rural subsistence production system. In this
cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat population was 39.7, 36.4, system on an average there were 3 to 4 dairy animals with
29.1 and 66.6 million respectively in Pakistan (Fig. 1) with one or two adult females. Almost 50 to 60% of the feed
gross milk production of 51 million tons (Fig. 2) [3]. requirements of these animals were fulfilled from grazing
Buffalo share in gross milk production was greater than along with wheat straw and some green forages. ¼th of

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 Global Veterinaria, 14 (1): 23-33, 2015

milk produced was sold out and the remaining was utilized Feed Requirements of Dairy Animals: The first and
for domestic use. With passage of time, this system was foremost requirement of dairy animals is water which is
changed into rural market-oriented small holder considered to be the cheapest nutrient. Animal get water
production system. Under this system, on an average from three sources including free water intake, water
there were 5 to 7 animals per herd. Feed requirement of contained in feed and water produced by body’s
lactating animals was fulfilled from forages along with metabolism. Dry matter intake is quantity of dry matter
wheat straw and seed cake to some extent. More than 70% which is consumed by an animal over a period for
of milk produced was sold either directly or through 24 hours. Average size cattle’s dry matter intake is 2.5 -
middlemen. This system was practiced by those 3% of its body weight. Animals need energy which is
smallholders who have access to nearby livestock provided by different feed stuffs. The capacity to do work
markets. In 1980s, dairy sector in Pakistan moved towards is called energy. It is the basic requirement of animals and
commercial side and development of rural commercial essential to maintain normal body functions.
dairy farms started. A typical rural dairy farm running on Carbohydrates, fats and protein are the main sources of
commercial basis consisted of about 30 animals of which energy. Mostly the energy is supplied to the dairy cattle
70% were females, including some cows. Approximately in the form of carbohydrates because these are the most
40% of these adult females were giving milk during most economical source of energy. Protein is also a good
of the year. Forage crops provided 50% and straws about source of energy but it is usually 5 to 10 times higher in
35% of the feed requirements and concentrates made the price as compared to carbohydrates and therefore it is less
rest of it. More than 90% of the milk produced at the farm used as an energy source. Fat is also a very good source
was sold. With growing demand for milk in urban areas of energy and supply 2.25 times more energy as compared
rural commercial dairy farming has now moved toward to carbohydrates and protein [21]. Crude fiber is also an
peri-urban areas. In peri-urban areas, there are large and essential quality parameter of feed stuffs. Crude fiber, acid
small dairy herds consisting of 20-50 animals with nearly detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber are the most
90% of adult females in production [9]. Male calves are common measures of fiber used for routine feed analysis,
disposed of within first two weeks of birth. These animals but none of these fractions are chemically uniform [22].
are fed chopped green forages and wheat straw and Neutral detergent fiber measures most of the structural
concentrate mixture with target to sell almost total milk components in plant cells like cellulose, hemicellulose and
produced. Due to enhanced rate of urbanization over the lignin. Acid detergent fiber does not include hemicellulose
last 2 to 3 decades, large peri-urban commercial dairy and crude fiber does not quantitatively recover
farming is going towards urban commercial farming. hemicellulose and lignin. The fineness at which forages
Targets of these farms are to get the maximum milk are chopped during harvesting can alter the effectiveness
production with economical and quality feeding and good of fiber for maintaining chewing activity. crops to make
management. Animals on these farms are fed good quality hey or silage should be chopped at a minimum of 3/8 inch
green forage or silage along with concentrate mixture. theoretical length of cut (TLC) to provide 15 to 20%
Dairy animals maintained at these farms are considered (weight basis) of the particles greater than two inches
elite animals; hence their yields per lactation are long. Chopping at 1/4 inch TLC provides only about 10%
considerably higher than those of animals maintained of the forage particles greater than two inches long.
under other production systems [8, 9, 11]. Milk produced Protein is required in animal rations to provide the supply
on these farms is either sold out in processed/fresh form of amino acids which are needed for tissue repair and
through outlets or departmental stores or supplied to synthesis, hormone synthesis, milk synthesis and many
dairy companies. During last ten years major changes has other physiological functions [23]. Protein requirements
been occurred in dairy sector of Pakistan and due to these are expressed as crude protein (CP), either in amounts or
change this sector is on the way to become an industry. as a percentage of the dietary dry matter. Crude protein is
A large number of modern dairy farms have been determined by multiplying the nitrogen content in a
established in different areas. Most of these dairy farms feed by the factor.25 (feed protein averages 16 percent
have exotic animals and number of these animals is in nitrogen) [24]. Feedstuffs that contain nitrogen in a
hundreds and even in thousands. Such farms have form other than proteins or peptides are called
adopted most modern management and feeding practices non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources. Urea and
and well trained man power. Milk produced on these farms ammonium slats are examples of NPN sources. They have
is either sold out in processed or fresh form [12-20]. crude protein value, but they do not supply any amino

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Table 1: Quality parameters of different green and dry roughages [30].

Name of Roughage DM (%) CP (%) EE (%) CF (%) Ash (%) NFE (%)
Green Roughages
Maize 23.7 9.8 1.8 27.1 9.8 51.6
Sorghum 33.4 6.8 1.5 31.8 6.8 53.1
Millet 25.0 4.4 1.5 32.6 11.5 50.1
Barley 19.8 13.3 3.6 21.9 13.5 47.7
Berseem (1st cut) 15.2 18.9 1.8 15.8 14.7 42.3
Berseem (2nd cut) 13.2 19.1 2.2 17.9 15.6 45.2
Berseem (3rd cut) 15.5 19.6 1.9 20.8 15.2 42.5
Berseem (4th cut) 18.4 15.3 1.5 26.8 15.7 40.7
Berseem (5th cut) 19.3 15.2 1.8 26.7 15.5 40.8
Berseem (6th cut) 20.0 15.4 2.2 28.4 15.2 38.8
Oat 17.2 13.5 2.9 23.0 13.3 47.3
Lucerne 18.2 22.5 1.7 24.0 12.4 39.4
Sugarcane 27.2 6.2 2.7 31.2 7.5 52.4
Guar 21.7 19.2 1.3 14.0 12.8 52.7
Bajra-Napier grass 23.7 15.3 2.2 28.3 15.2 39.0
Hybrid Napier grass 28.8 16.3 1.2 26.1 13.9 42.5
Range grass 35.7 5.1 3.0 36.7 8.1 47.1
Moth 24.5 11 1.5 31.3 12.6 43.6
Mung 23.1 14.5 1.1 32.2 10.8 41.4
Dry Roughages
Wheat straw 90.5 3.0 0.1 41.8 10.9 44.2
Rice straw 90.5 4.1 0.2 31.9 15.4 48.4
Maize stovers 95.2 5.5 0.4 38.0 10.0 46.1
Sorghum stovers 94.5 3.5 0.9 40.5 7.5 47.6
Range grass hay 91.1 3.1 1.5 40.6 6.8 48.0
Mung straw 95.5 8.4 2.3 37.8 14.9 36.6
Chickpea straw 95.2 5.5 0.6 44.2 10.3 39.4
Sugarcane straw 92.3 2.1 0.9 47.8 3.6 45.6
DM=Dry matter CP= Crude protein EE= Ether extract CF= Crude fiber
NFE= Nitrogen free extract

acids directly [25]. Minerals and vitamins are also grasses. Hay is used during the scarcity period of forages.
essential dietary constituents and required in relatively When the grain portions of the crops are removed,
small quantities. remaining dried plant material are straws and stovers.
They consist mostly of stems and leaves. These may also
Feed Resources: There are two types of feed resources be termed as crop residues. These are low in protein, high
namely conventional and non-conventional feed in fiber, less digestible, low in minerals and cannot be
resources. Conventional feed resources refer to those consumed in large quantities by the animals. Therefore
which are traditionally used for animal feeding. In Pakistan they are classified as poor quality or low quality
conventional feed resources include roughages and roughages. The commonly available straws and stovers
concentrates. Roughages are further classified as green in different areas of Pakistan are wheat straw, rice straw,
roughages and dry roughages. Roughages are plant barley straw, chickpea straw, moth and moung straw,
materials in a fresh, dried or ensiled state which are bulky soybean straw, maize stovers and sorghum stovers [27].
and fibrous in nature and normally contain higher Hulls are the outer hard coverings of grains which are
percentage of crude fiber (18%) and low percentage of obtained as by-product during seed processing. Cotton
total digestible nutrients (less than 60%) [26]. Fodders, seed hulls are commonly used for livestock feeding in
forages, range grasses, sugar cane tops and tree leaves some parts of country. Seeds broken during processing
are the examples of green roughages. Green roughages are are mixed with the hulls to increase their nutritive value.
high in moisture content, easily digestible and are Rice hulls are also abundantly available but they are of
commonly used for the feeding of dairy animals. extremely poor quality [28, 29]. Among green roughages,
Dry roughages include hays, straws, stovers and hulls. lucern forage contains the highest crude protein and is
Hay is prepared by drying the fodder and then preserving followed by guar, while among dry roughages leguminous
it so it is the air dried forage. In Pakistan farmers mostly crops have a higher crude protein contents as compared
prepare hay from lucern, sorghum, millet, oats and to cereals dry roughages (Table 1).

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Table 2: Quality parameters of different concentrates [22].

Name of Concentrate DM (%) CP (%) EE (%) CF (%) Ash (%) NFE (%)
Mustard seed cake 91.7 32.4 9.6 19.8 12.0 26.2
Cottonseed cake 91.9 23.4 8.8 27.4 6.8 33.6
Maize oilcake 94.6 16.5 12.1 9.3 1.6 60.5
Wheat bran 89.7 14.5 3.5 8.8 4.1 68.7
Rice bran 89.7 8.2 7.7 13.0 17.2 53.9
Wheat bread 89.7 14.9 3.5 8.8 4.1 68.7
Maize gluten feed 87.9 12.5 10.6 12.7 1.0 63.2
Maize gluten meal 30% 90.9 26.2 1.8 8.7 6.7 56.6
Maize gluten feed 60% 91.5 54.7 3.4 2.6 1.5 37.8
Cottonseed meal 92.2 36.7 8.7 15.4 7.2 32.0
Guar meal 93.2 44.3 5.7 12.2 1.5 36.3
Soybean meal 91.8 48.4 2.8 7.2 8.5 33.1
Sunflower meal 91.1 35.5 1.1 19.1 8.6 35.5
Rapeseed meal 96.7 35.7 8.6 12.4 7.5 35.8
Fish meal 90.7 56.3 8.7 0.9 19.9 14.2
Blood meal 92.1 54.5 1.5 0.9 15.8 27.3
DM=Dry matter CP= Crude protein EE= Ether extract CF= Crude fiber
NFE= Nitrogen free extract

Concentrates are the substances which are high in extraction process. Compared to oil meals oilcakes are low
energy and protein while low in fiber and are highly in protein and high in residual fat [33]. They generally
digestible. Being the expensive part of feed these are used include the fibrous part of seeds. Among the available
mostly in small quantities as energy supplement. oilcakes, cotton seed cake and maize oilcake have high
Concentrates are classified as energy rich concentrates protein value for ruminants as compared to mustard seed
and protein rich concentrates [30]. Protein rich cake which is highly degradable [34]. Generally all animal
concentrates are further differentiated on the basis of their origin proteins like blood meal, fish meal, bone meal, meat
origin as plant origin and animal origin concentrates. meal and feather meal are less degradable in the rumen
Cereal grains (wheat, maize, barley, oats, sorghum, rice and therefore are good sources of protein for ruminants.
etc.), wheat bran, rice polishing, molasses and sugar beet The nutritive value of different concentrates is given
pulp are categorized as energy rich concentrates. Table 2 which shows that maize gluten and blood meal are
Although cereal grains are mainly used as human food the richest source of crude protein, while cotton seed cake
and not included in the feed of dairy animals but their contains the highest crude fiber. It is worth mentioning
by-products like rice polishing, maize bran and wheat bran that concentrates of animal origin contain much more
are commonly used as animal feed. Molasses are the crude protein in comparison with concentrates of plant
by-product of sugar industry. It is a thick viscous material origin but these do not constitute the major proportion of
which is high insoluble carbohydrates and contains some animal feed and greater chunk is provided by
minerals. Although molass is a cheap and energy rich feed concentrates of plant origin, because of availability in
but is still not commonly used by local farmers. Molasses greater quantities and at comparatively cheaper price.
can be included in the diet by mixing it with other It was reported by nutritionists that only 3.5 to 4 kg of
concentrates, spraying it on dry roughages, providing it balanced mixture of concentrates may support 10 liters of
as a free lick or as solidified molasses urea block. The milk production [3]. Normally in dairy animals this mixture
palatability and consumption of poor quality roughages is fed at rate of ½ of the milk yield (one kg of concentrate
are increased by the use of molasses [31]. Fats and oils mixture for every two liters of milk). Balanced concentrate
contain energy about 2.25 times as much as mixture feeding is essential for dairy animals because a
carbohydrates or proteins [32]. Due to their high cost, fats single concentrate like maize, barley or oat and oilseed
and oils are not routinely used for livestock feeding. cake alone cannot meet the requirements properly, so
Protein rich concentrates are derived from plants and different mixtures containing concentrates of plant origin
animals. Protein concentrates of plant origin are mostly by in greater quantities and concentrates of animal origin in
products of the oil extraction industry. Oilcakes are comparatively smaller quantities can give nutritious feed
produced when oil from seed is extracted mechanically and will also reduce the price. If a single concentrate, such
while oil meals are the byproducts of the solvent as maize, sorghum, or barley is considered for feeding of

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Table 3: Different ingredients and their ratio in wanda. energy and by 33 % of crude protein requirements [37]. In
Ingredients Ratio (%) resource management, rangelands have a vital
Sunflower cake 10-13
contribution. Rangelands are 63% of the total area of
Cotton seed Cake 20-25
Pakistan. Rangelands are important nutrient reservoir and
Rape seed cake 10-13
Peanut cake 20-25 prevalent at mountain beds. It is estimated that ranges
Cotton seed meal 15-20 have 38% contribution in feed resources for livestock in
Soybean meal 10-15 Pakistan which is second major contribution after fodder-
Rapeseed meal 15-20 crop residues, which has 51% contribution [30]. The most
Rice polishing 18-20
economical way to consume rangeland vegetation is
Wheat bran 23-25
grazing but no attention is focused on maintenance of
Wheat grains 15-20
Maize grains 40-50 these ranges and drip irrigation and water sprinkling in
Maize gluten 20% 20-30 deserted areas. It is a need of time to conserve these
Maize gluten 30% 20-25 ranges by different strategies, like, artificial reseeding,
Maize gluten 60% 5-10 introduction of competitive and ecological friendly exotic
Molasses 10-15
species, water conservation procedures and extension
Urea 1-2
services regarding rangeland conservation and by proper
Oil 2-3
Common salt 1-2 research work. This can provide quality biomass in large
Mineral mixture 2 quantity from these ranges or waste lands. One of the
Existing Scenario: major causes of the low productivity of our animals is the
poor grazing condition of these rangelands. Now, they are
400 kg lactating buffalo yielding 10 liters milk, about 7 kg deficient in nutrients and overgrazed; deforestation and
grain will be needed to be provided to meet the protein uprooting of the range vegetation is occurring rapidly.
requirement [35]. Inferior quality hay or straw roughage is Rangelands are undergoing deterioration but yet no
not only costly but also harmful. Similarly when high proper strategies have been made to maintain and improve
protein oilcake like groundnut and till cakes is used as their productivity. For improvement of rangelands, limited
single concentrate, the excess of protein is wasted and the research is conducted traditionally. This condition is
ratio between protein and carbohydrate is also disturbed worse in Baluchistan province and there is no research
which affects milk production. The major ingredients of facility on conservation of ranges in the province.
wanda prepared and provided to dairy farmers in Pakistan Rangelands come under forestry department and there is
by different livestock feed manufacturing companies no coordination between the livestock and dairy
include cotton seed cake, maize gluten, rice and peanut development department and forestry department to
bran along with energy rich concentrates like wheat grain, improve the condition of ranges. If some policies are
wheat straw and rice polishing left overs as shown in constituted by both of these departments for the
Table 3. But matter of concern is that there is no rangelands improvement, then problems of livestock
government regulation and checks on price and quality of issues can be addressed. Forages are considered to be the
wanda that infest the local markets and their high cost most palatable animal feed resource. There are two types
make their use limited to dairy farmers only. Local farmers of forages depending upon the amount of protein present.
with 2-3 livestock heads do not give much attention to These include leguminous forages and non-leguminous
provision of different concentrates to their livestock and forages. Leguminous forages are higher in protein content
depend on grazing along bank canals and limited supply because they have the ability to utilize the environmental
of forages and ultimately result in limited productivity of nitrogen with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria present
milch animals. in their roots. On the other hand non-leguminous forages
The livestock population in Pakistan is supported by have no such ability so they are low in proteincontent.
feed resources derived mainly from crops residues, Important legume forages are barseem, lucern, shaftal,
fodders, forages, rangelands and from agro-industrial by- soybean, cluster bean and cowpea. Non-leguminous
products. It is estimated that existing feed resources are forages include many cereal forages such as maize,
deficient by 29 and 33% in total digestible nutrients (TDN) sorghum, millet and oats. On the basis of growing season
and crude protein (CP) respectively [36]. The feed supply green forages in Pakistan are classified as spring forages
balance for the livestock feed pool is estimated to be and autumn forages. Autumn forages are grown in
deficient by 21 % of total dry matter (DM), by 29 % of November and December and include barseem, oats,

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Table 4: Nutrient supply from different sources [30] shortage of feeds and forages will be a great challenge to
Source Share % the future livestock industry. But there is a dire need to
Forages and Crop residues 51
ensure efficient utilization of available feed resources and
Rangelands 38
will have to make untiring efforts to increase the quantity
Post-harvest grazing 3
Cereal by-products 6 as well as quality of feedstuffs in order to ensure milk and
Oil cakes 2 meet provision on continuous and sustainable basis.
Future Prospects: There is a need to increase production of forages on
sustainable basis to increase milk and meat production.
barley, mustard/rape seed, lucern etc. Spring forages are Continuous research has been carried out on
grown in May-June and include sorghum, millet, mott intercropping of cereal forages with legumes such as
grass, sadabhar, guar, jantar, sugar beet tops. Forages cowpea, cluster bean, soybean etc. to increase yield on
and crop residues provide about 51% of total required per hectare basis and to provide mix forage of
nutrients in Pakistan and second biggest source of comparatively higher quality, however there is dire need
nutrients is pastures (Table 4) [38]. The present forage to place these research activities on higher place in the list
supply is 1/3 less than the actual needs and the area of priorities. There is a need to initiate a breeding program
under forage crops is decreasing at the rate 2% per to produce quality seed of forage crops having higher
decade and that too without any significant yield potential as well as quality particularly protein
corresponding increase in per hectare yield [10, 39]. The content. A wide and comprehensive extension program
present day aim of the animal scientists and researchers should be initiated to make the farmers aware of latest
should be to enhance the productivity of livestock rather production technology as farmers in Pakistan continue to
than increasing the total number of animals. The remain stick to traditional agronomic practices and
contribution of livestock (which largely depend on natural provincial agricultural departments should take initiative
grazing lands) to the economy is substantial. Keeping in in this regard. Forestry agencies in many regions of the
view the livestock numbers and their requirements, range world tend to evict pastoralists when planting exotic trees
productivity is very poor. It indicates the importance of on large swaths of grazing land. Tension between
the livestock industry, which ultimately depends on foresters and pastoralists is further increased because the
rangelands as its base. The present feed resources hardly former favors fast growing, drought resistant species over
meet the maintenance requirements. According to some fodder trees, which are preferred by the pastoralists. Joint
estimates, livestock are getting only 75% of the required Forest Management as well as other management
amount of digestible energy and 40 % of the digestible approaches has promoted alternative fores management
crude protein [40, 30]. The productivity of livestock in ideas to solve conflicts between foresters and pastoralists
Pakistan, despite their known high genetic potential, is [46, 47]. One approach consisted of including local
low. This may be attributed to many reasons, of which communities in the management process of forests and
mal-nutrition is probably the most important. Green anticipating the needs of these communities when
forages are not available in sufficient quantities especially selecting species to be planted. Trees and browse species
in extreme hot months (June-July) and during cold season have been used as livestock fodder for centuries. For
(December-January) and most of the animals are underfed. example, poplar and willow, Acacia albida, Prosopis and
Straws of the cereals and other by-products are commonly Gleditsia are being used as fodder trees in New Zealand,
used to overcome feed shortages, but these do not meet Africa and South Africa, respectively. These have been
the actual feed requirements of the animals. The treatment used for multiple purposes such as food, shelter, wood,
of straws and stovers is also not very common. The non-wood-based products, oil, biodiesel, or medicines.
concentrates are expensive and cattle feed manufacturing However, it is very difficult to get al l these benefits just
has not taken place to meet these requirements [41, 42]. from one plant or system [48, 49, 50]. Plant scientists are
Under prevailing scenario and problems like growing focusing their work on tree species that can provide
pressure of the human population, decreasing area under good-quality fodder especially in dry periods when no
fodder crops, shortage of irrigation water, less and erratic other forages are available. Tree species like Leucaena
rainfalls, barren rangelands, low priorities to forage leucocephala, Ziziphus jujuba, Morus alba, Terminalia
production and preservation, no significant change is arjuna [51, 52] and Moringa oleifera are being widely
envisaged in the years to come regarding sufficient studied nowadays. M. oleifera is a remarkable species
feedstuffs availability [43, 44, 45]. It seems that the with its high nutritional value and good biomass

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 Global Veterinaria, 14 (1): 23-33, 2015

production, which can be used as a nutritional 4. Bilal, M.Q., M. Suleman and A. Raziq, 2006.
supplement. Moringa cultivation practices and its Buffalo: Black Gold of Pakistan, Livestock Research
utilization as livestock fodder and in fish diet has been for Rural Developmen. pp: 66-79.
established [53, 54, 55, 56], who have shown that this 5. Dahlin, A., 1998. Genetic studies on Sahiwal cattle in
species has potential as livestock fodder. Moringa Pakistan. Doctoral thesis, Swedish univ. of agric. Sci.
oleifera has been a focus of scientists for its quality to be Uppsala, Sweden.
utilized as livestock fodder. Less importance has been 6. Khan, B.B., M.A. Sial and A.H. Gilani, 1988. Livestock
given to other species belonging to the family feed resources and requirement scenario of Pakistan.
Moringaceae [57-61]. A few researchers have evaluated Dairy production potential and challenges. Proc. Natl.
the potential of Moringa stenopetala as livestock fodder. Faisalabad, Pakistan.
It is reported that M. stenopetala leaves have high CP 7. Akram, M., 1990. Pakistan, Animal Feed Resources in
contents (9% of DM), 280 mg kg-1 of vitamin C and 160 mg Asia and Pacific. Asian Productivity Organization,
kg-1 of â-carotene contents with iron and calcium contents Tokyo, Japan.
of 30.8 and 7928 mg kg-1, respectively [62-67]. Government 8. Hanjra, S.H., J.B. David and M.J. Akhtar, 1995.
should take initiative to prevent the over use of grazing Fodder production. FAO. Small dairy holder dairy
lands in Pakistan and should form a governing body to development in Punjab, Pakistan.
manage the rangelands on scientific basis to ensure white 9. Heydari, G., A.T. Yansari and H. Zali, 2006.
revolution in the country. Dairy farmers should be made Inspection on three plant spices as an animal
aware of milch animals feed requirements and their forage source in Mazandran wetland. Pak. J. Nutr.,
management on scientific basis. Thus an integrated 5(4): 382-386.
approach regarding feed resources can ensure sustainable 10. Sarwar, M. and Zia-ul-Hassan, 2001. Nutrient
Metabolism in Ruminants. University Press, Univ.
production of milk for teeming millions in times to come.
Agric. Faisalabad, Pakistan.
11. Sarwar, M., M.A. Khan and Z. Iqbal, 2002. Feed
CONCLUSION
resources for livestock in Pakistan. Int. J. Agric. Biol.,
1: 186-192.
Nutrition plays a vital role in the productivity and
12. Farooq, M.K. and A. Qudoos, 1999. Constraints in
performance of livestock and particularly milch animals
the Adoption of Modern Livestock Practices. Pak.
which suffer a serious setback in terms of milk production
Vet. J., 19(1): 53-55.
where the currently feed resources are quite insufficient
13. Habib. G., A. Hameed and M. Akmal, 2007. Current
to meet its nutrition requirement. There is a dire need to
Feeding Management of Peri-Urban Dairy Buffaloes
initiate a breeding program to produce forage seed with
and Scope for Improvement. Pak. Vet. J., 27(1): 35-41.
more yield potential and high in quality parameters. 14. Hasnain, H., 1983. Feed-the key to more food in
A comprehensive extension program should also be Pakistan. Proc. FAO PARC Workshop on Least Cost
initiated to make the farmers aware of latest production Formulation, Islamabad.
technology of forages. Rangelands should be 15. Idrees, M., Z. Mahmood, D. Hussain, M. Shafi and
scientifically managed to prevent them from continuous U. Sidique, 2007. General problems regarding
overuse. Forage trees like moringa tree must be integrated extension services with livestock and dairy farmers
into the forage supply chain to ensure milk production on of Peshawar district, Pakistan. Sarhad J. Agric.,
sustainable basis for skyrocketing population. 23(2): 123-127.
16. Iqbal, M. and M. Ahmad, 2002. An assessment of
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