Staff Reporter Rawalpindi
A five days first scientific training on “Phenotypic Characterization of Livestock Breeds of Pakistan” for Animal Breeding and Genetics Faculty/Researchers commenced at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Monday.
The training is organized by the PMAS-AAUR National Center for Livestock Breeding Genetics &Genomics with the objectives to build the capacity of faculty and researchers from all over the country for phenotypic traits and its genetics of Livestock breed for better productivity and elevation of poverty.
Prof. Dr. M. Sajjad Khan Vice Chancellor Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Bahawalpur was the chief Guest while Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman was the guest of Honor.
The program was moderated by Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Khan (Chairman Dept. of Veterinary Pathology PMAS-AAUR).
Vice Chancellor, Cholistan University, Prof. Dr. M. Sajjad Khan emphasized that, Pakistani livestock sector contributes about 58% of the value of agriculture and nearly 11% to the agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP).
In the Pakistani livestock sector, milk is the single most important commodity. However, Pakistan is ranked third in milk production worldwide.
It plays an important role in poverty reduction strategies, and this sector may be developed very quickly as all required inputs for this sector are available in adequate quantities in the country. Pakistan is endowed with diverse livestock genetic resources, he added.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qmar-uz-Zaman said that Pakistan has a large livestock population, well adapted to the local environmental conditions but there is a dire need to explore the genetic potential of animals for optimum production beside good management practices.
He was of the view that Pakistan is lacking skilled human resources and said that capacity building of you scientists, researchers and postgraduate students is very important in developing the skilled human resources.
Through trained manpower we not only enhance our workforce but this is indirectly promoting research in the country, he added.
He said that this project has a great potential and will revolutionize the livestock sector of Pakistan and that will ultimately contribute to the national development.
He hoped that participants of this training will learn a lot which would be helpful to them in their respective organizations.
