An assessment of livestock production potential in Pakistan : Implications for livestock sector policy

This paper describes a simple method of assessing milk production potential of the lifestock and estimating the existing yield gap. The yield gap is estimated in two scenarios. Results from the model indicate that under ideal conditions, there is a potential to increase milk production from 50 to 100 percent from the existing level of 23 million tons. (...) The nutrition and management resources thus released would in turn enhance per animal productivity by removing mal-nourishment of the lifestock herd. Large gaps in the data set are noted and that where data exist, they are mostly estimates. The paucity of data on key parameters like breed-wise production coefficients, production potential estimates, particularly under varying feeding and management regimes were noted. Several implications for the sector policy have been drawn. (Pak Dev Rev/DÜI)