Current issues and future prospects of dairy sector in Pakistan

The aim of this article is to explore the current status of livestock resources, their status of utilization and the future research concepts in dairy production and milk processing in Pakistan. Advances in the areas of genetics of dairy species, cow reproduction, nutrition, dairy chemistry, milk microbiology, processing technology and milk-based functional foods, have to be applied in Pakistan since the increase in Pakistan's population from 65 to 165 million over the past 3 decades is forecasted to an increase to 234 million by 2025. The need to increase food production means that competition for land and water resources will become more intense. The ecological sustainability of already fragile systems will be further challenged. Agro-industrial byproducts and non-conventional feed resources could be used for feeding of livestock, if farmers are trained accordingly. Situation may be significantly improved if fodder conservation techniques are introduced in livestock feeding systems. Pakistan needs a competitive and profitable dairy farming industry not just for economic but also environmental and social reasons. Productivity potential of local breeds is low and an attempt to genetically improve the local cattle through cross breeding has resulted in improvement in milk yield, acceleration in growth rates and higher prices; however, its discriminate use has been also associated with decreased immunity against temperature changes, disease and nutritional and environmental stresses prevailing in the region. The long-term effects of new systems (such as extended lactations, robot milking and all-year-round housing) will call for ever more intelligent approaches to the simultaneous achievement of quality systems that minimize environmental burdens, sustain high standards of health and welfare and deliver nutritionally valuable products into well organized food supply chains. Value addition, processing, packaging and marketing of milk, meat and eggs, backed up by an authentic quality control system, would improve our products for the people of the country and would provide an export base for national economy. Preparation of the local livestock production system for export to the international halal food market must become a national priority to provide halal food for Muslim consumers in non-Muslim dominated regions.