Extinction of Sindh’s indigenous cattle feared

Sindh Agriculture University opens Sub-Center of National Livestock Breeding, Genetics and Genomics at the Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission.

Tando Jam: Academicians from various universities across the country, farmers and civil society fearing the extinction of indigenous breeds of cattle in Sindh, have underlined the need for utilizing the artificial reproductive technology to save the indigenous species.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Center for Livestock Breeding, Genetics and Genomics Sub-Center at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), the experts said that buffaloes, goats and the number of purebred breeds of various livestock, including sheep, have declined to an alarming level, and exhorted that there is a special need for modern technology and farmer’s guidance for their protection.

Sub-Center of National Livestock Breeding, Genetics and Genomics was established at the Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission.

Addressing to the ceremony Vice Chancellor SAU Dr. Fateh Marri said that Sindh is the second largest milk and meat producing province in the country, but there is a danger of decline in the indigenous and rare breeds of animals. “There is an urgent need to save these cattle. Sindh Agriculture University is well aware of its role in this regard and is committed to disseminating the results of the advanced research of our experts to the farmers”.

Dr. Qamar Uz Zaman, Vice Chancellor, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi said that there are excellent livestock opportunities in Sindh. “Agriculture and livestock have now converted in the industry, so the Public, Private and Academia will have to work on joint projects,” he said hoped that ‘for the benefit of the farmers of this country in general and Sindh in particular, the SAU will play its role in sharing this technology to the common farmers through its experts.

Dr. Bekha Ram Devrajani, Vice Chancellor, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, said that Sindh Agriculture University has the best infrastructure for various experiments in animal husbandry and Veterinary Sciences. “We want to start research work in various fields with the SAU at the laboratories of Faculty”.

Ali Akbar Dars, a Progressive Farmer, said that there was a time when our Thari cows used to produce 20 to 22 kg of milk at Nabisar Cattle Farm, but now the milk has come down to two kilograms. “Purebred cows are still producing the best at my personal farm,” he told.

Dr. Parshotam Khatri, in-charge of the project, while giving a detailed briefing on the project, said that the center would conserve the reproductive pure seed of cattle, buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep and other livestock. In this regard, field work will also be done for the rare breeds, while the endangered species of healthy and rare and best animals of Sindh will be saved.  “DNA tests will also be conducted to verify purebreds,” he said.

Dr. Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah Rashdi, Dean, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Dr. Aqeel Memon, Dr. Rehana Bariro and others also addressed the function.

Earlier, Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor SAU, Dr. Qamar Uz Zaman, Vice Chancellor, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Dr. Bekharam Devrajani, Vice Chancellor Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Dr. Khalil Ahmed Ibuputo, Vice Chancellor Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Dr. Bhai Khan Shar, Vice Chancellor Shaheed Allah Bakhsh Soomro University of Art Design and Heritage and others inaugurated the sub-center and laboratory of the National Center for Livestock Breeding Genetics and Genomics. (PR)

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