Chapter 5

Conclusions & Recommendations

Inferences drawn, both from the data analysis and personal observation can be concluded
into following categories.
 Herd related problems
 Milking practices
 Mastitis management
 Labor problems
 Farmer’s business vision
 Farmer’s characteristics

Conclusions are also followed by respective recommendations.

5.1 Herd Related Problems

 No. of Animals on farm:
Herd size in most of the farms are low, mostly farms have 100-200 buffalos on their
farms so their economy of scale is very low and compromising. In Pakistan farmers
generally highlights the production numbers of milk and they hardly speaks of value
addition. In the production approach, the quantity is highlighted, whereas in the
value approach, the productivity and resultant economic gains are more important.
Almost all of our dairy farms are in informal sector, where they are bound to limit
the possibility of investment in productivity and innovation because that demands a
large economy of scale. Larger herd size can bring a lot of certainty in the business
contracts a farmer may enter as he would be able to negotiate with different supplier
on his own terms being a bulk buyer and many other variables can be controlled.
Pakistan’s dairy industry is essentially informal and in an informality driven market,
there are very few incentive to innovate, grow and scale-up.

 Shuffling of Herd:
Our survey results depicts that in our dairy farms shuffling of herd is made after 10
months on average that means that Buffaloes are bound to produce milk for 10
months while the natural lactation period of Buffaloes in Pakistan is 6-8 months on

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 the average. So over lactation caused less average production of milk while the feed
consumption remains same throughout. Farmers practice over lactation assuming
that it will increase their profit but that’s not the case practically. Over lactation
immensely affects the breeding Cycle of Buffaloes too as some Buffaloes put a lot of
fat and gets on heat late and the whole next cycle is disturbed. Normal Cycle is 20
months in which 8 months are of lactation and then 12 months until the next lactation
period starts that has been prolonged unnaturally up to 24, 25 months. On the large
scale that 4-5 months prolonged period have severe effects as the availability of fresh
buffaloes in the market on the right time is a big issue.

 Calves Raising:
Calves Raising on Farm is almost none in our dairy farms and the field research
indicates that most of the calves are sold within 10 days of their birth and Infant
Calves are usually sold and almost half of them were later slaughtered which
severely affects the next generation availability of fresh milking animals. When
inquired Farmers revealed that the weather conditions in the city is not favorable for
calves and they don’t survive here, also, it effects the milk production as calf drinks
1-2ltrs milk per day and that’s their loss so they sell the future precious buffaloes on
a very low price. The problem does not stops here and field survey reveals that the
calves who were not slaughtered also gets separated from their mothers and their
nutrition requirement are not fulfilled. Study further reveals that only 30% of the
calves survived for the next breeding season, this statistics are based upon personal
experiences of people

 New Buffalos buying:

In our survey we have found that that more than 50% of the animals on farms are
bought on Installment. In the short run it seems easier for farmers that they don’t
have to invest much but that costs them at least 10% higher buying rate of buffaloes
on 5 installments and up to 15% on 10 installments. The problem occurs for farmers
at the time of shuffling of their animal when they get the same price of their dry
animals whether they have bought on or installments so they took home a very less

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 profit percentage. Most of the Buffalos are bought from local Mandis where
middlemen exploit farmers a lot and take extra profit on fresh buying also.

 Keeping dry animals and pre-fresh animals on farm:

Common mistake on farms is that they keep all the herds together on farm in which
dry animals, lactating animals and pre fresh animals all are included and no one
maintains separate records of other animals and lactating animals. Almost 10%
animals on farms are found to be present which were not lactating and disturbing the
average milk production of the farms while taking feed equivalently.

 Milk production:
10ltrs per day per animal is the average milk production is found in farms here in
Karachi and sadly its tremendously low. Pakistan is the 4th largest milk producer and
known prominently for its special breeds like Nili Ravi and Kundi among many
others so ideally milk production average of a buffalo per day should be very higher,
if not much at least 12-13ltrs but it’s practically not and that raises a very big
question that why we our farmers are not able to increase the production to the
optimum level.

 Animal Feed:
In Karachi Mix Wanda is used in most of the farms along with Tori and Green
fodder. Mix Wanda is the feed manufactured by different companies and their
quality is questionable. There is no surety of the nutrition value and ingredients
percentage of that mix feed. Bhosi tukre and Khal is also used which is also toxic
and dangerous to buffalo and pH-level of animals increased that’s poisonous to
animal’s health and the milk quality too.

 Feed bill payment terms:

Payment of bills are made on credit terms and it’s a normal practice throughout the
farmers that they don’t make payments on time to their feed suppliers and they
consequently have to bear extra load of increased rate and they get up to 5%
increased rate.
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Recommendations:
Co-operative farming along with corporate farming clubs should be brought on board to
achieve a good economy of scale.*

Shuffling of herd should be made max by 8 months to keep the natural breeding cycle
undisturbed. Calf slaughtering should be banned and strict action should be taken against it
by authorities. Farmers should be bound to keep the calves with their mothers until
necessary and people should encouraged to raise those calves in villages after that. Farmers
should be educated about the need of raising calves for the next generation. Farmers should
buy buffaloes on cash to avoid huge increment in rate. Dry buffaloes and pre fresh buffaloes
should be kept separately in groups and separate records should be maintained. Payments of
feed bills should be made on cash to avoid increased rates.

Milk production average here in farms is very less due to lack of care and improper feed
input to Buffaloes. Mix Wanda,Khal and Bhosi-Tukra should not be used as feed ,
self-customized ingredients should be bought for feed .*

See Annexure for suggested feed Items by Dr Khalid Parvaiz**. He has suggested complete
feeding solution and best alternatives of the feed used here, His suggested feeds are
according to international practices which are customized as per weather conditions and
materials availability in Pakistan.
**Dr Khalid Parvaiz.- Grade-19 Officer at Livestock & Dairy Development Department Punjab,
Ex_ Add.Director Livestock Attock,
Studied DVM ; M.phil . Medicine and Animal Nutrition at University of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences

5.2 Milking Practices

 No. Of Employees:
No. of employees on some farms are less and employees are usually overburdened.
One person is employed for 10 animals on average and duty hours are not flexible.
Child labor is also practiced on some farms since that is a cheap labor. 6% of labors
are found to be child labor.

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  Milking Protocols:
At the time of lactation no standard milking protocols are followed; such as washing
or spraying of udders with water before milking, teats are not massaged or dried,
disinfecting of teats not done, there is no post-dip or pre-dip applied. Farmers not
normally pay attentions to any of these things.

 Production evaluation:
Milk production is evaluated on yearly basis in most of the farms. Production
averages are calculated annually and profit/loss is also calculated at that time.

 Presence of Owner:
Farm owners pay less visit to sheds and all of the management is dependent over
Munshis (managers), who don’t have personal interest in animals and work for
money without any passion. There should be any alternative command and control
system if the owner is not in the farm but that’s also not present. Whole business is
dependent over trust and no proper check on management and lower staff.

 Milk storage:
Milk is not stored in any of the farm since that is directly supplied but I any
emergency and in hot summer milk loose its shelf life during supplying and many
farmers bears the loss due to it.

Recommendations:
One person should be employed for eight animals and child labor should not at all be
practiced. At the time of lactation standard milking protocols such as washing or spraying of
udders with water before milking, teats massaging and drying, disinfecting of teats, applying
of post-dip and pre-dip should be followed. Milk production needs to be evaluated on
monthly basis at least.* Farm owner should pay regular visits and should have complete
surveillance system of sheds to keep managing in their hand, appointing munshi’s
(managers) is a good approach but cross check is necessary.

Milk storage system is necessary to be installed in farm to avoid loss of milk’s shelf life due
to hot weather or any emergency.

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5.3 Mastitis Management

 Managing Mastitis:
Separate group of animals are not made for the mastitis affected animals, all of the
milk is mixed in the same Tub. While oxytocin is also regularly used more than the
prescribed dose, use of oxytocin severely affects the breeding cycle and also the
problems related to nervous system of Buffalo which is dangerous. Shed area is also
not cleaned properly for Mastitis affected animals. Medications and Vaccinations are
also not prescribed by Vets, people believe more on traditional methods and if they
use Vaccines they are also not consulted by certified Vets. Employees are not trained
by any authentic institution and normally not trained properly. There is no medical
record kept for any animal, hence no data available to keep track.

 Team Meetings:
Team meetings are not practiced in most of the farms , employees are not given
much importance over any issues , most of the owners relies upon their Munshi, thus,
lower staff is not listened , not encouraged and have literally no good motivation for
work.

 Getting Information:
Mostly farm owners rely on their own experiences and traditional practices, very few
consult with vets, farm journal not practically exist here in Pakistan. Sometimes they
discuss thing with fellow dairy producers but people don’t help others very often,
jealousy is a very big issue, nobody wants others to flourish. Drug company
representatives just try to sell their own products more than guiding the farmers to
the right way.

 Identifying the problems:

Almost every farmer realizes that mastitis is the problem on his farm but don’t have
the realizations of the factors included. Milking protocols and treatment protocols are
almost unknown to many. 20% of the farmers claim that their losses and mastitis
issues are due to their bad luck. Employees are not given importance to help resolve

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 this issue also. There is a blame game instead that team members are not giving
attention to animals.

Recommendations:
Separate group of animals should be made for the mastitis affected animals. Oxytocin
should not be used more than the prescribed dose since use of oxytocin severely affects the
breeding cycle and also the problems related to nervous system of Buffalo which is
dangerous. Shed area must be cleaned properly for Mastitis affected animals. Medications
and Vaccinations used must be prescribed by certified Vets. Traditional methods are also
useful in many cases but an experienced person should be consulted before-hand.
Employees should be trained by any authentic institution. Proper medical record kept for
every animal should be maintained to have a better understanding of diseases of every
animal.*

Regular team meetings should be called on weekly basis to have good mutual understanding
of farm issues. Employees must be given importance to help resolve problems. Government
level training center should be formed to educate the farmers or at least Dairy associations
should come up to address local farmer issues regarding animal Diseases and Mastitis.
Milking protocols and treatment protocols must be known to employees who are attending
animals.

5.4 Farm Labor

 Family Involvement:
Dairy farming in Pakistan is considered as family business here and practiced more
often in specific families so family members usually involved greatly and take
leverage of their relationships. Many undue advantages are also taken along with
monetary benefits causing operations to be hampered.

 Employee loyalty:
It is observed that more than 50% of the employees work on a farm for just 3-6
months and just 30% work for 6-12 months which is very alarming. Quick shuffling
of employees hampers smooth operations as well as farm performance. Child labor is

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 also practiced in some farms which show the no seriousness of farm owners towards
their human resource.

 Monetary benefits:
Employees are not rewarded on their good performance nor they get penalty for their
carelessness. There is no incentive for employees who work really hard to please
animal and increase the profit too so generally employees have no passion towards
their work. Employees also no bound for their work since they have no liability of
animal , means they are not charged if any such thing happens which results in loss.

 Employee Safety:
HSE (Health, Safety and Environmental) Measures not taken, many were not even
aware of what they are.*
Employee’s social security/health insurance package is also almost unknown.

 Check and Balance:

Surveillance system is also not found in any farm, so there is no command and
control over management.

 Managing Employees:
It is hard to get and retain good employees, experienced and trained people have
their own demands which are difficult for small farmers to afford. Employees are
generally not motivated much and they are not involved in setting goals also no
training is provided.

5.5 Dairy Farming Business

Everyone wants to stay in the dairy business and increase their profit, only few people wants
to retire. People wants to set up things for next generation but in depth research depicts that
next generation who get Farm in Heir ship is only interested in volume of income rather than
profit percentages. Improving Herd health and increasing milk production is important for
everyone. Everyone wants to reduce feed cost but they compromise in feed quality. People

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want to cut labor cost but no one is trying to adopt modern techniques. Same is the case with
improving milk quality; farmers want it but don’t take serious measures to achieve it.

Recommendations:
Every team member should be assigned their own task and no one should be allowed to
intervene anyone either he is a family member or other employee. Employees should be
bounded to work for longer periods on farm. Quick shuffling of employees hampers smooth
operations as well as farm performance. Monetary benefit should be given to employees on
their good performance and penalty for their carelessness. There must be incentives for loyal
employees who work really hard to please animal and increase the profit too so that they can
have passion towards their work. Employees should also be given social security/health
insurance packages. HSE Measures should be taken for everyone’s safety and Surveillance
system needs to be installed in farms to have command and control over management.

5.6 Farmer Characteristics:

Most of the farmers belong to any specific cast in which Nagori, Meo Rajpoot and Gujjar is
prominent. This business revolves within Specific cast/races, and they have mafia style hold
over this business, they make it very difficult for new entrants to step-in this market. Mostly
farmers are associated with dairy farming associations but their focus is not on increasing
milk quality, value added products and efficiency, they rather focus upon unnecessary hold
over market.

Majority of the Farmers are only matriculate or even less than that. They can’t identify
problems on scientific and technical grounds, they don’t know about dairy developments in
the world so ultimately can’t adopt modern techniques.

Recommendations:
Old Farmers as well as Next generation should be well aware of the changes in market
requirement and need of improving buffalo health and milk quality. This business is
revolving among specific casts/races and certain families, new entrants and entrepreneurs
should be encouraged and provided with good platforms to step in the market. Focus should
be made on increasing milk quality, making value added products and enhancing efficiency
of farms.
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Educated people should come up in this field that can identify problems on scientific and
technical grounds. Seminars and workshops should be organized on recent dairy
developments in the world which could be adopted and practiced here.*

* These recommendations also have similarity with policy recommendations paper

Enhancing Dairy Sector Export Competitiveness. (TRTAP, 2015)

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