Survey of livestock production and management in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigated the existing infrastructure and milk yield performances of different livestock breeds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In this regard 70 livestock farmers were interviewed from different zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including rice-wheat, mixed cropping, low intensity, rainfed and Peri-urban. Results revealed that livestock is the main source of income for 62% of the respondents followed by (21%) crop farming. In the study area, 22% of the famers keep local breed of cattle followed by Sahiwal (18%), Holstein-Friesian (9%). Similarly, in the case of buffalo, Nili Ravi is very common and kept by 38% respondents followed by local breed (22%). In terms of milk production (liters per day) Sahiwal breed of cow is the most productive (9.3 liters per day) followed by Holstein-Friesian (8.7 liters per day), and cross breed (8 liters per day). The area farmers get higher yield of milk from local buffalo (7.9 liters per day) followed by Nili Ravi (7.1 liters per day). Results further revealed that large farmers are more efficient in getting milk. Lack of commercial dairy farms, weak infrastructure, lack of financial facilities etc. is some of the constraints hindering productivity of livestock farmers in the study area.