Livestock is an important source of livelihood for a majority of the rural population. It not only generates income for flock owners, but is also a major source of nutrition for the population. Animals are exported to other provinces to meet food requirements. They are also an important source for milk, wool and hides. Further, they are an important source of transportation particularly in those areas where speedy transport is not available or where the area is hilly. Most people have sheep and goats. Some rear them for domestic use, others for commercial purposes.

The absence of data for Mastung separately makes it difficult to estimate the growth rates for the district. At the time of the 1986 livestock census Mastung was a part of Kalat district. In 1996 a new census was carried out, but its result are not yet available. Comparing the 1986 census and a projection for 1996 of Kalat including Mastung, see table below, it can be concluded that the number of sheep and goats have increased with 34,4% during the intercensus period. Poultry shows a growth of 10%. The number of cattle, buffaloes, camels, horses, donkeys and mules show about the same growth rate. Both men and women are involved in the livestock sector. Women are responsible for watering and feeding and cleaning the abodes. They also make dairy products, such as yoghurt, butter and ghee. Women do not possess livestock and they are not allowed to sell even chickens. As far as paid labour involvement is concerned, men are paid twice as much as women.

The figure of herd size per household is not available. However, it can be gathered that apart from those keeping livestock for commercial purpose, in general there are 2 to 3 animals per household. Cows are traditionally kept by the more well to do. There is no meat processing plant, neither in the district nor in the province. Livestock markets exist in several towns of the district. Moreover, livestock is bought and sold in the villages through middlemen as well as by the owners themselves. Livestock prices are subject to fluctuation. There are many factors influencing the prices of livestock in the district. For example, during drought years the prices for livestock drop, because the herd owners cannot afford the costs of feeding the animals. At the time of Eid-ul-Azha, and immediately after, the prices are normally very high, as this is time of high demand.

There are 27,331 cattle and 235 buffaloes in the district. A large number of cattle are slaughtered every day in government controlled slaughterhouses, but an even greater number is slaughtered elsewhere. For example, during 1994-95 in district Mastung 508 cattle were slaughtered in government controlled slaughterhouses. The proportion of cattle in the total number of slaughtered animals was 66%. In 1995-96, 415 cattle and 665 buffaloes were slaughtered and their proportion in the slaughtered animals was 6.2% and 10% respectively. The animals slaughtered during Eid and those slaughtered outside slaughterhouses are not included in these figures.

Hides and skins are not processed in the district. They are only dried and salted. The marketing of hides and skins is in the hands of the private sector.

There are 10 dairy farms in the private sector selling milk and butter to the surrounding population.

According to the livestock census 1996, for which provisional figures are available the goats and sheep number more than 2.49 million. Wool as a by-product is marketed to other provinces for final use in carpet and blanket industries. The private sector is engaged in the marketing of wool and skins. A small part of the wool and hides is used for family requirements.

Poultry is an important income generating activity of rural women in district Mastung. Rural women keep hens for eggs and they may keep the income from the selling of eggs for themselves. However, most eggs and chickens are consumed by the family itself. There are two government poultry farms. In the private sector there are five poultry farms employing 8 persons. They have 500 to 700 birds.

The most common diseases among the livestock in district Mastung are Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinder Pest, Black Quarter and Piro Plasmosis for cattle; Anthrax, Entero Toximia, Plouro Pnemonia and Sheep Pox for sheep and goats; and New Castle Disease, Chicken dysentery, Infection entro Toxaemia for poultry.

There is a network of government veterinary institutions in the district. Through this network the disease affected animals are treated and vaccinated. For example during 1994-95 60,895 animals were treated and almost 112 thousand animals were vaccinated. Data about livestock dipping is not available. From 1994-69 338 animals were castrated. People bring their sick animals to the veterinary dispensaries for the vaccination and treatment or the Livestock Department travels through the district with mobile units. Those who benefit from mobile services also include nomads. During the year 1995-96 more than 209 thousand animals were treated.

There is a network of veterinary institutions including 1 hospital, 18 dispensaries, 1 Artificial Insemination Centre (AIC) and 1 Disease Investigation Laboratory (DIL) unit. In addition there are mobile units. The number of dispensaries has increased from 9 in 1993-94 to 18 in 1995-96. Apart from these government institutions, there is a large number of privately managed clinics. There are 43 persons engaged in providing veterinary services in the district. They include doctors, inseminators and vaccinators.

Veterinary drugs are available in the market and also in the government veterinary hospitals. Till recently, these drugs were highly subsidised. Nowadays all costs of medicine have to be borne by the owner of the animal. This has created a peculiar situation for the owners, because in the open market, smuggled veterinary medicines, particularly from Iran, are available at a much cheaper rate than the rate charged by government institutions. Therefore, people normally buy medicines on the market, but take their animals to government centres for diagnosis. Rough estimates about treatment expenditure per year indicate that for small animals it ranges from rupees 10 to 15 and for big animals from rupees 150 to 200.

The district also has a cattle research institute. The major functions of this institute is to carry out research on breeding and on diseases.

Source: Assistant Director Animal Health Mastung

At the district level, the Assistant Director Livestock supervises the veterinary institutions. The Livestock Department also has an extension service to create awareness among the farmers about livestock related activities.

The provincial government, supported by international donors, is actively involved in providing the following services regarding animal husbandry; veterinary hospitals/dispensaries, artificial insemination, input supplies and dairy development.

The provincial government plays the biggest role in the provision of livestock services in the district, followed by the private sector, international donors and federal and local government institutions. The role of NGOs is minimal.

Marketing services and price setting are influenced by private enterprises and the provincial government. The local government plays an active role in providing slaughtering services, but it is important to note that the dominant role in slaughtering services is played by the private sector.

Livestock statistics are collected by the provincial government and are further processed by the federal government through their respective agencies

The livestock sector plays a significant role in the economy of district Mastung. It is an important source of livelihood and a major source of income for livestock owners. The district has vast potential of increasing its production of small ruminants, provided water resources are fully exploited. The productivity and quantity of small ruminants can be increased through public investment by providing certain facilities to this sector e.g. improvement of disease control, live stock extension service etc. The majority of the population living in rural areas is very poor and cannot afford to rear flocks on a commercial basis. There is complete absence of credit facilities, particular in the livestock sector. Supply of feed and fodder is inadequate. The farmers need to be educated through livestock extension services. It is essential to synchronise the policies of local, provincial & federal government, international donors and the private sector for livestock development .

Moreover, like in other districts, NGOs can play their due role in the district. It has been observed that most of the beneficiaries of government/international donor schemes are rich and influential persons of the community, while the poor people neither have access nor have the knowledge and courage to benefit from these services. Therefore, the need arises to organise the poor people through NGOs on community participation basis, so that they may be able to share the fruits of development.

There is a shortage of data on livestock activities. People have complained that veterinary staff rarely visit the villages for curative and preventive purposes. Therefore, institutional capacity at district level should be enhanced. Women’s involvement in livestock is not taken into account despite their major contribution. There are no training or credit facilities available to women’s activities in this sector.

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