LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES
RESEARCH UNIT
SARC,
Objectives
LFRU
undertake problem oriented research with reference to peri-urban dairy farming
in Sindh.
Ø
To conserve and improve Red-Sindhi breed of cattle through
selective breeding,
Ø
To undertake research on nutritional improvement for
enhancing milk and meat production.
Ø
To formulate, produce and propagate balanced feed for
cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels etc. on commercial basis.
Ø
To conduct aquaculture research.
Main Disciplines of
Research/Sections within Institute
i.
Animal Nutrition
ii.
Animal Breeding
iii.
Fisheries
Technology Developed/Achievements
i. Polyculture of Fresh Water Fishes and Prawn
The project was
designed to study growth and survival of fish/prawn in Polyculture systems and
to determine economic feasibility. Mean production of prawn during three growth
c
ycles 2002-2006 at
two sites i.e. Dilshad Fish Farm, Chilya and Ejaz Fish Farm, Pirputtho, Thatta
were 194.2 and 230.8kg/acre. Mean production of fish (composite) during three
growth cycles at two sites were 940.00 and 866.25kg/acre. All the three growth
cycles were carried out with complete harmony of experimental design and procedure
and it presented more promising results in terms of prawn and fish production
and yield in polyculture system as compared to monoculture. Maximum weight of
male prawns Macrobrachium malcolmsoni recorded during present studies was upto
175g. This technology has been transferred to fish farmers at Thatta and
adjacent areas and most of them are adopting the technology.
Current Project/Research Activities
1. Nutritive Value of Diets
Used in Landhi Cattle Colony and Their Impact on Milk Production
The field survey of
Landhi cattle colony regarding nutritional value of diets used for dairy
animals in LCC is under way and information regarding feed composition, milk
production and health status is being recorded. A total of 45 questionnaires
have been filled up till now. It has been observed that almost 100% farmers
have feeding buffaloes well above the normal NRC requirements for protein and
energy. The reason of over feeding is to fatten the dairy animals and fetch
better disposal prices at the end. This over feeding and over-weight not only
increases the cost of feeding but also increases the stress over buffaloes and
hence the expenditures over health cover. These practices also reduce the
chances to breed the buffaloes for next cycle and hence dispose off for
slaughter.
2. Estimation of Minerals
Profile of Indigenous Feed Ingredients & Strategic Supplementation
of Minerals to Dairy Animals
The theme lying
behind this study is to explore the mineral composition of indigenous feed
ingredients and their strategic supplementation to different classes of dairy
animals. The indigenous feedstuffs were collected from the cattle colonies,
ingredients merchants and feed millers. The fe
edstuffs analyzed
for mineral composition belongs to different classes of feedstuffs viz.
succulent and dry roughages, cakes/meals, cereals and industrial byproducts.
These includes the maize, oat, sorghum, wheat straw, oat straw, barley straw,
cottonseed cake, rapeseed cake, sunflower cake, canola meal, corn, wheat, rice
broken, barley, oat, pea, wheat bran, rice polishing, corn gluten meal,
molasses and corn cobs. These ingredients were analyzed for both macro and
micro mineral composition (Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Co). The
feedstuffs were analyzed for mineral composition following AOAC (1990). Calcium
and magnesium were analyzed using sodium EDTA method. Sodium, potassium and
phosphorus were estimated using photometeric (flame and spectro) method.
Micro-minerals like iron, manganese, zinc, copper and cobalt were analyzed by using
atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. Three samples of each feed
ingredient were obtained and analyzed in duplicate. Data analyzed as under
|
S
# |
Item |
Ca |
Mg |
P |
Na |
K |
Fe |
Mn |
Zn |
Cu |
Co |
|
|
Units |
(%) |
(Mg/Kg) |
||||||||
|
|
Dry/Green
Roughages |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Maize |
0.45 |
0.20 |
0.15 |
- |
0.70 |
87.63 |
67.11 |
- |
5.69 |
- |
|
2 |
Oats |
0.05 |
0.10 |
0.05 |
- |
0.30 |
196.25 |
62.17 |
56.31 |
8.55 |
0.10 |
|
3 |
Sorghum |
0.36 |
0.34 |
0.41 |
0.01 |
1.32 |
225.79 |
84.31 |
45.16 |
34.36 |
0.09 |
|
4 |
Wheat straw |
0.16 |
0.09 |
0.10 |
0.33 |
1.54 |
164.55 |
38.75 |
3.21 |
- |
- |
|
5 |
Oat straw |
0.34 |
0.13 |
0.11 |
0.12 |
2.42 |
200.18 |
17.16 |
6.39 |
4.32 |
- |
|
6 |
Barley straw |
0.39 |
0.12 |
0.19 |
0.14 |
1.45 |
191.56 |
21.61 |
7.41 |
3.31 |
- |
|
|
Cakes/Meals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
Cottonseed cake |
0.25 |
0.66 |
1.39 |
0.13 |
1.52 |
177.30 |
22.75 |
0.36 |
13.91 |
0.13 |
|
8 |
Rapeseed cake |
0.65 |
0.41 |
1.50 |
0.03 |
0.06 |
197.16 |
24.32 |
40.10 |
7.16 |
0.07 |
|
9 |
Sunflower meal |
0.22 |
0.80 |
1.23 |
0.14 |
0.93 |
96.39 |
23.32 |
22.41 |
3.17 |
0.23 |
|
10 |
Canola meal |
0.75 |
0.51 |
1.10 |
- |
1.16 |
190.32 |
22.63 |
37.16 |
4.55 |
- |
|
|
Cereals/Pulses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
Corn |
0.25 |
0.12 |
0.24 |
0.07 |
0.36 |
24.32 |
6.25 |
15.31 |
2.30 |
0.03 |
|
12 |
Wheat |
0.06 |
0.09 |
0.39 |
0.03 |
0.45 |
39.71 |
46.47 |
25.00 |
11.01 |
0.19 |
|
13 |
Rice (broken) |
0.01 |
0.09 |
0.35 |
0.07 |
0.47 |
- |
16.39 |
15.33 |
- |
- |
|
14 |
Barley |
0.06 |
0.12 |
0.45 |
- |
0.49 |
57.21 |
14.37 |
18.10 |
6.13 |
0.06 |
|
15 |
Oats |
0.13 |
0.17 |
0.39 |
0.05 |
0.39 |
74.26 |
39.73 |
3.18 |
- |
0.001 |
|
16 |
Pea |
0.10 |
0.15 |
0.55 |
0.07 |
0.97 |
16.10 |
- |
31.81 |
- |
|