Livestock farming has been a centuries old occupation of a vast majority of the population in Kohlu. It was the only source of bread-winning for most of the households, hence all the family members were used to graze their livestock. Even after the people settled down in villages and started agricultural activities, they have been raising cattle and small ruminants to fulfil their milk and meat requirements. There are two sets of livestock data available about Kohlu district; Pakistan Census of Livestock 1986 and 1990 Census of Agriculture. There is great discrepancy between these sets of data, specially in case of sheep, cattle and camels.

The size of herds varies from one hundred to 150 heads of small ruminants and 5-20 cattle. Other animals like horses, donkeys and camels are also raised. The livestock farmers follow a regular pattern of seasonal migration. Livestock raising communities live throughout the district, specially in the mountainous areas. The majority of the households owns a couple of cows, a pair of bullocks or a camel for ploughing, a donkey and a camel as a beast of burden, and several sheep and goats. Poultry is also raised by a vast majority of the households. However, poultry is not an organised sector in Kohlu. Apart form exporting cattle and small ruminants outside, these are marketed in Kohlu as well. A livestock mandi (market) is organised daily at Kohlu for this purpose.

In livestock farming families almost all the family members are involved in livestock raising. Women help feeding animals at home if fodder is available and do the milking. By grazing the animals women and children share in the economic burden of the household. On the other hand, it deprives the children of getting an education which is a basic constitutional right of every child.

People in Kohlu raise cows for their milk production. There are only a few buffaloes. Bullocks and camels are raised for farming as well as for fulfilling nutritional needs. The meat from these animals is not only consumed locally, but in neighbouring districts as well. According to an estimate, 992 cattle were slaughtered in 1995-96 at the government’s slaughter house. Hides are sold on the market to retailers, who send it to Karachi and various districts of Punjab for processing. No organised marketing system is present. Infrastructure for meat production is lacking too.

The Department of Livestock and Dairy Development has established a dairy farm at Kohlu. However this dairy farm seems a burden on the public exchequer as the total number of cattle has decreased from 91 in 1990-91 to 27 in 1995-96 and the recurrent expenditure is increasing constantly. In 1995-96, total income of the farm was rupees 392,555 against the total recurrent expenditure of rupees 1,962,223.

Sheep and goats constitute an overwhelming majority of the livestock population. Even agricultural households have considerable herds of small ruminants. These are raised throughout the district, as there are enough pasture lands in Kohlu. Sheep and goats are raised for multiple purposes like milk, mutton and their wool and hides. Apart form the meat, their hides and wool give a reasonable income to the owner. In Kohlu’s slaughter house 7,512 sheep and 7,838 goats were slaughtered in the whole year of 1995-96.

At present 5 poultry farms are functional in Kohlu, one by the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development and 4 by the private sector. In 1995-96, total number of birds in the government poultry farm was 1,146. Like the dairy farm, this poultry farm also is in a deficit position. The total income in 1995-96 was rupees 160,008 as compared to the total expenditure of rupees 803,152. On the other hand private poultry farms are earning a profit, mainly because of less recurrent cost and efficient management.

Major diseases prevalent among livestock in Kohlu include anthrax, lung worm, liver fluke, tape worm, wire worm, nasal fly, enterotoximia, paraplasmosis, mange and diseases caused by external parasites like tick and mite. Prophylactic vaccination is carried out after regular intervals through veterinary hospital and dispensaries. The vaccination fee policy has changed over the years, resulting in fluctuations in the vaccination coverage. This in turn results in high mortality. At present, the exact mortality rates are not known. Women use domestic cures for annimals.

At present, there are 1 veterinary hospital and 72 dispensaries in Kohlu district. A Disease Investigation Laboratory Unit is available at the veterinary hospital (Kohlu) only, while an Artificial Insemination facility is not available in the district. There may be a few private outlets selling veterinary medicine, but most of the people consult the government facilities. Presently, 75 percent of the total treatment cost is charged from the livestock owners. It is planned to let them pay the full 100 percent in the near future. Vaccination was free in 1993-94, but in 1994-95 a fee of two rupees per vaccination was imposed. The government has made it free again in 1995-96, but the rate of vaccination has decreased significantly (see Annex 7). A sum of rupees 39,415 was received by the Department in 1995-96 on account of animal treatment. In order to provide veterinary services to people living in far flung areas, mobile camps are also organised in winter season.

In Kohlu district, the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development is supervised by an Assistant Director stationed at Kohlu. The total strength of the Department in Kohlu district is 206 employees. The Department is responsible for providing veterinary treatment facilities and for collection of livestock data. The Government Dairy Farm at Kohlu is headed by a Manager with a total staff of 18 employees while the Government Poultry Farm is also headed by a Manager with a total strength of 10 employees.

The provincial government provides veterinary services and, to some extent, input supplies while price setting and marketing is done by the private sector.

Livestock farming is still one of the major economic activities. Livestock farming can take the form of an organised sector if the government would provide more effective guidance and veterinary services along with easily accessible credit. Small ruminants are preferred by most of the people, though cows and other animals are also kept. Agricultural development may result in better fodder crops and, consequently, in increased livestock farming.

Women play a major role in livestock activities, from grazing, preparing fodder, cleaning abodes and milk processing to cleaning hides and skins. The women raise chickens and sell their eggs. The women’s role in livestock is sharing the burden of work. There are no training and credit facilities available to develop their potential further and to make the burden of work lighter and increase the income.

Privatisation of the government poultry farm could be considered.