Small Ruminant Production Systems: Status and Prospectus for Improvement in Potohar Region of Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted to characterize and evaluate the existing smallruminants (SR) production and management systems in Potohar region of Pakistan. The SR farmers(n=50; flock size > 05 animals) were interviewed.The majority of SR flockswere owned byilliteratemales. The farmers were either landless (17.02%) or had >5 acres of land (34.04%). The farmers(86%) were mostly depending on free range areas for animal grazing. Feed supplementation waspracticed during forage scarcity periods, particularly during winter season (89.9%). Housing was made(90%) to provide shelter and protection from predators and theft. Mean live weights of SR werecomparable with breed average. Animals were highly prolific with 1.43 services per conceptionshowing 60% conception rate. The mortality rate was high in goat kids (28.73%) than that of lambs(19.22%). The major hindrances in SR productivity enhancementidentified were feed shortage,inadequate animal health care and lack of proper marketing system.