20000106

KCCI proposes

cattle ranches complex

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), has proposed a project, for the establishment of a cattle ranches complex, preferably at Nawabshah where infrastructure is available as well as local market and export facilities, being close to Hyderabad and Karachi.

Cattle ranching is a big industry and involves integrated operations covering grass management, cattle breeding and fattening, slaughtering, packaging and freezing of meat. The main objective of cattle ranching is to produce maximum quantity of meat without impairing the natural fertility and vegetation of land.

In Pakistan buffaloes, cows, goats and sheep are mainly slaughtered for the consumption of meat. Nevertheless, during 1996-97 Pakistan imported 17,418 kg meat of sheep frozen and 37,461 sheep amounting for 40.79 million. During 1997-98, the livestock population increased to 126.41 million compared with 122.61 million during 1996-97, showing an increase of 3.1 percent. The population of main livestock in millions was, buffaloes (21.3), cattle (18.0), goats (49.7), sheep (31.3). The composition of livestock population indicates 39.3 percent goats followed by sheep 24.8 percent, buffaloes 16.8 percent and cattle 14.2 percent.

According to Pakistan census of livestock in 1990, Sindh's share of major livestock of Sindh in Pakistan's livestock population was cattle 15.8 percent, buffaloes 14.4 percent, sheep 4.4 percent and goats 12.5 percent.