Abstract:
Imran Manzoor1, Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed1, Muhammad Farhan Saeed1, Iftikhar Ahmad1, Muhammad Waqas2 1Deptt. of Environ. Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61000, Punjab, Pakistan; 2Deptt. of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sci., University of Poonch Rawalakot, AJK, Pakistan Pastoralism of goats and sheep is playing a significant role to fulfill the milk and meat requirements of the people of Punjab, Pakistan. Although urbanization has affected this traditional profession but still a significant number of families are continuing their family legacy. The current survey study conducted in three Tehsils of District Vehari i.e. Tehsil Vehari (site-1), Tehsil Burewala (site-2), Tehsil Mailsi (site-3). A specific questioner is designed to collect the information about the shepherd and their families. Stratified random sampling method is used to record the information about the size of herd, diversity in the herd, family involvement, possession of animals, management of animals, vaccination, and breeding strategies. Among the values of study results in the brackets indicated that the first values belong to site-1, second values belong to site-2, and third values belong to site-3. Herd size of goats (18.14, 21.75, 17.51%) and sheep (8.57, 9.47, 7.21%) at all three sites. Statically similar results observed about interest of families to continue this profession in all sites i.e. 75.67, 78.23 and 77.45%. Ownership of a herd was mixed, shepherd head owned 82.25, 78.26, 85.36% of total animals in the herd. The population of goat was higher (91.57, 96.48, 86.27% in all three sites) as compared to sheep population. Primary purpose of goat (78.25, 74.18, 81.47%) and sheep (67.48, 71.48, 65.42%) rearing is for selling of animals for meat purposes. Vaccination of animals is very poor in all three sites (6.89, 9.78, 7.96%). They are mainly dependent on free rang grazing (98.10, 96.75, 97.42%) and nighttime they kept the animals in temporary open skey shed (94.57, 91.48, 96.47%). Watering to animals is not from any specified place and it was common practice from open watering places (97.85, 98.24, 97.05%). The cooperation of other family members (96.47, 97.26, 91.42%) was high and contribution of females (18.23, 14.25, 12.47%) are not common in any of studied place. Interestingly, they did not spend much time for the marketing of goats (0.42, 0.54, 1.14hrs) and sheep (1.58, 1.41, 1.35 hrs) selling. They preferred to sell the males of goats (91.58, 86.47, 84.67%) and sheep (97.89, 98.78, 95.36%) on some events. The study results suggested that animals rearing system could be enhanced through training, vaccination and provision of productive bread of goats and animals.