Killa Saifullah district is reported to have about one third of its total geographical area as range land thus providing ample chances for livestock development. It is the second important economic activity in the district. The only available livestock figures for Killa Saifullah district are from the Census of Agriculture 1990 which in the absence of any other statistics at the district level are impossible to comment. According to these figures, sheep and goats are the most common livestock species in the district. The approximate grazing capacity is enough to support further development of livestock.

The livestock communities have a semi-nomadic lifestyle. For most part of the year they migrate with their herds to other areas of pasturage in the province and in Afghanistan. However, agricultural development has changed their lifestyle to some extent and some of them have adopted a more settled way of life. Seasonal migration is prevalent in livestock farming areas like the Union Councils of Tubli, Sharan Jogizai and Khasnob. Some households who combine agriculture and livestock raising also migrate to other areas but only in winter season. From November to February livestock farming households migrate to Loralai area and from March to July they migrate to Kalat area or Afghanistan, adjacent to Zhob district. The Kalat area of Afghanistan, Sharan Jogizai and Tubli are inhabited by the Jalalzai tribe. The civil war in Afghanistan has not affected this migration. After the rains in August the valleys of Rod Jogizai area are offering fresh pasture. From August to October livestock farmers from other areas also migrate to this valley for grazing their herds.

In livestock farming areas about 80 percent of the households make a living out of raising small ruminants. These livestock farmers own tiny plots of irrigated land. According to the veterinary officer at Killa Saifullah, 70 percent of the livestock farmers live in the mountain areas and the average size of a herd is 150-200 heads. In other areas of the district, livestock holding is an additional activity. In Murgha Faqirzai UC almost all households possess about a dozen small ruminants. In Ragha Bakalzai village near Muslim Bagh town, livestock raising is a subsidiary activity of all households where each household possesses about a dozen small ruminants. They pay a shepherd rupees 4-5 per head per month for grazing their animals. The government has built one Basic Health Unit in the valley at some distance from the village Tubli. According to some officials this BHU was built for the livestock farmers who come and stay here for four months. Surprisingly, there is no livestock dispensary in the area which is probably a more urgent need of the people.

Women can hardly be seen grazing their animals. Mostly the children and men are livestock grazers. However, women are involved in a variety of livestock activities. They feed the animals at home, if fodder is available, and cure them by traditional methods. They keep the place for animals clean and prepare dung cakes which are used as fuel. By grazing the animals children share the economic burden of the household. However, this deprives the children of schooling, which is a basic right of every child.

According to the veterinary officer, on average some 20 percent of the farming households in the district possess at least one cow. In some areas of the district about 50 percent of the farming households own one or two cows. Cows are a major source of milk production. Buffaloes are rare. In Muslim Bagh town some people keep a small number of cows for selling the milk. Milk sold in Killa Saifullah town is brought from Loralai. Bullocks and camels are raised for farming as well as to fulfil nutritional needs of the area. However, the introduction of tractors has reduced the population of draught animals. Beef of the cattle is not only consumed locally, but the cattle is also sent to other areas for slaughter. According to the slaughterhouse statistics, local consumption amounted to 1,925 (including 165 buffaloes) cattle per annum in 1994-95. Hides are sold to the retailers and afterwards sent to Karachi for processing.

Sheep and goats constitute the overwhelming majority of the livestock population in Killa Saifullah district. Even agricultural households have tens of small ruminants. These are raised mostly in non-irrigated areas where range land provides pasture. Sheep and goats are raised for multiple purposes like milk and meat. In Killa Saifullah district, 15,185 sheep and 15,041 goats were slaughtered in the slaughterhouse in 1994-95. Women are involved in milking, milk processing, medication, cleaning of abodes, etc.

The poultry requirement of the district is partly met through import of poultry birds from other districts. However, a vast majority of the households possesses poultry birds which fulfil local needs. One government poultry farm was reported at Muslim Bagh, but its details are not available. Mortality rate of household raised poultry birds is high and the veterinary hospitals in the district do not have any vaccine or medicine for poultry. The Balochistan Rural Support Programme has provided training to women for poultry farming at the household level. The BRSP has also introduced Feomi poultry birds which lay about 200-270 eggs a piece per annum. Women are very much involved in household poultry, the income thus generated is spent by them, though catering for the whole family.

Major diseases among livestock in Killa Saifullah district include lungs worm, liver fluke, mange, mastitis, anthrax, sheep pox, entereotoxima, contagious plural pneumonia, foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tick fever. Although women and men are both involved in curing of diseases, people are not very considerate about diseases of their livestock. Non-availability of adequate veterinary services at Union Council level results in high livestock mortality. However, exact mortality rates are not known. Mostly the livestock farmers do not bring their diseased animals for treatment. They just describe the symptoms and prescription is made according to these symptoms. Through this, accurate treatment of the animals is not possible. The main poultry diseases include new castle, rani khet and gumboro.

At present two veterinary hospitals are functioning in Killa Saifullah district at Killa Saifullah and Muslim Bagh. There are 29 veterinary dispensaries. The facility of an Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre is available at Killa Saifullah and Muslim Bagh while a Disease Investigation Laboratory Unit is present at Killa Saifullah only. At the AI centres insemination is provided for Friesian, Sahiwal and Jersey breeds of cattle. Change in the fee policy affects animal treatment to a great extent. Presently, 50 percent of the total treatment cost is charged from livestock owners while it is planned to be raised to 75 percent in 1997-98 and to 100 percent in 1998-99. Vaccination was free in 1993-94 but in 1994-95 a fee of rupees two per vaccination was imposed. The government made it free of charge again in 1995-96. In 1994-95, a total of 207,450 animals were treated and 121,350 were vaccinated (see Annex 7). In order to provide veterinary services to people living in remote areas, mobile camps are also organised in winter season.

In Killa Saifullah, the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development is supervised by an Assistant Director. The total staff strength of the Department is 67, including three veterinary officers. The Department is responsible for providing veterinary treatment facilities, running dairy and poultry farms and collection of livestock data.

The provincial government is providing veterinary services and, to some extent, input supplies while price setting and marketing is done by the private sector. The federal government is providing credit services through the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan which can facilitate and enable the people to be involved in livestock development.

A livestock development project is also operating through the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development which is being financed by the Asian development Bank (80%) and the Government of Balochistan (20%). This project was initiated in 1992 with the objective of increasing livestock productivity by improving the breeds and introduction of improved varieties of fodder. Under this project, Village Livestock Committees have been established; workshops on various topics have been conducted; a situation analysis of households has been made; training has been given to the Village Animal Health Workers; demonstrations have been given on better fodder cultivation, ewe-flushing and late-gestation supplementary feeding; and throughout the year vaccination, treatment and worming has been done. The Balochistan Rural Support Programme has also given demonstrations on animal health and poultry farming. The women are being encouraged by BRSP to adopt poultry farming as an income generation activity.

Livestock statistics are hardly available for Killa Saifullah district. Various sources give different figures about livestock. The agricultural development, inception of new occupations and urbanisation have decreased interest in livestock farming. However, a considerable proportion of the population is still involved in this activity. Livestock farming can take the form of an organised sector if the government provides more effective guidance and veterinary services along with easily payable credit. Generally small ruminants are preferred by most of the people and only a few dairy animals are kept by households. Agricultural development may result in better fodder crops and, consequently, in increased cattle farming. Although women and children are involved in daily livestock herding and caring, livestock services are mainly rendered towards men. Farmers in general, but women at household level in particular, lack information and knowledge in livestock raising, as they do not have access to adequate training in animal husbandry.

The livestock development project is a worthwhile initiative and it should also be expanded to other areas of the district. Community level efforts guided by the BRSP may help the livestock development.