Pakistan’s livestock sector is a highly valuable national asset that forms the backbone of rural income, food security, and economic development. According to the Economic Survey 2024–25, the livestock sector contributes 23.5% to the national GDP and accounts for 63.6% of the growth in agriculture, while more than 37% of the rural workforce is linked to this sector. Approximately 800,000 rural households depend on livestock for their daily income, with small farmers earning up to 40% of their income from milk, meat, and related activities. Pakistan’s total livestock population exceeds 251 million, including 59.7 million cattle, 47.7 million buffaloes, 89.4 million goats, and 33.1 million sheep, producing 72.34 million tons of milk and around 6 million tons of meat annually. Despite its size and importance, the sector has not reached its full potential due to several challenges affecting production, profitability, and sustainability.

The most significant challenge is the shortage of quality feed and nutrition. Seasonal gaps, poor forage availability, shrinking grazing lands, and deteriorated pastures deprive animals of adequate nutrition for extended periods. Rising commercial feed prices prevent resource-limited farmers from providing balanced diets, leading to reduced milk production, weakened immunity, delayed reproductive cycles, and lower overall productivity. Limited access to clean water further exacerbates these problems, affecting feed efficiency, milk yield, growth, and disease resistance. Genetic limitations are also a key constraint. Although Pakistan possesses some of the world’s best buffalo breeds, overall productivity remains low due to weak breeding programs, inadequate artificial insemination, unregulated crossbreeding, and lack of performance or genetic record-keeping. These genetic constraints have hindered Pakistan from achieving internationally competitive livestock productivity.

Animal health issues further reduce productivity. Diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, hemorrhagic septicemia, brucellosis, mastitis, parasitic infections, and emerging transboundary diseases cause significant annual economic losses. Veterinary services are poorly organized, vaccine availability is inconsistent, cold chain maintenance is inadequate, and substandard or fake veterinary drugs are frequently used. Many farmers rely on untrained practitioners, increasing disease risks and antimicrobial resistance. Poor biosecurity on farms, such as unregulated animal movements, insufficient hygiene, lack of quarantine, and mixing animals from different sources, also contributes to the spread of diseases.

Another constraint is the lack of good farm practices. Poor housing, inadequate ventilation, unhygienic conditions, irregular feeding schedules, lack of clean water, and insufficient record-keeping negatively impact production and animal health. Most farmers do not monitor milk production, reproductive cycles, or health indicators, impeding overall improvement. Financial limitations are also significant. Most small farmers operate with limited capital and cannot afford quality feed, supplements, or veterinary services. Restricted access to formal credit and high-interest informal loans hinder investment, preventing upgrades in housing, water management, feed systems, and machinery.

Additional constraints include lack of technology, insufficient modern farming tools, automated feeding, and digital record-keeping. Energy shortages, unreliable electricity supply, water pumping, and cold storage limitations further reduce productivity. Climate change, including heat stress, drought, and floods, negatively affects livestock production and health. Market infrastructure deficiencies, such as limited access to modern facilities, cold chains, and quality control, also impact the sector. Transportation and logistics challenges, including poor roads and substandard transport, hinder animal health and market access. Lack of research and data prevents effective policymaking and genetic improvement programs. Regulatory and legal gaps, weak enforcement of veterinary drugs, export standards, and farm management regulations affect quality and safety. International donor agencies often restrict training programs to Five Star hotels, limiting practical knowledge transfer to small farmers. Training and awareness are insufficient, as not only farmers but also regional veterinary staff are often not fully trained in modern technology, disease detection, and better farm management.

Additional reasons further constraining livestock production include: limited access to high-quality veterinary inputs, weak extension services, poor farm-to-market connectivity, ineffective policy implementation, and inadequate institutional support. Many farmers prioritize immediate income over long-term productivity, affecting breeding and herd improvement programs. Seasonal water shortages and mismanaged grazing resources create additional variability in livestock performance.

Policy and institutional gaps persist. Livestock development receives low priority, regulatory authorities are weak, and long-term strategies are lacking. In conclusion, Pakistan’s livestock sector is not just an agricultural resource but a national asset that supports economic growth, rural poverty alleviation, food security, and employment. Nevertheless, constraints related to feed, water, genetics, health, farm management, biosecurity, finances, technology, energy, markets, training, and regulations prevent it from reaching full potential. Investment in modern technology, stronger laws, improved animal health and breeding, and providing farmers with knowledge and resources can make Pakistan’s livestock sector more productive and value-generating.

Dr. Alamdar Hussain Malik
Advisor, Veterinary Sciences
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Swat
Former Secretary / Registrar, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council