Livestock, as a sub-sector of agricultural sector, contribute about 9% towards GDP and significantly to the health/economy of the nation. Their contribution has many facts notably economic, social and environmental. Overall, livestock contribute some 30% of gross domestic product generated by the agricultural sector. Some 9 million animals generate about 3 million kilowatts of drought power. Livestock are also responsible for supplying about 16 percent of total household energy, in the form of cow dung.
The livestock sector has a vital income distribution consequence. Its activities provide 10-25% of the income of small farmers & landless livestock producers. Livestock are owned in small herds and flocks by about 5 million farm families and around a million landless households, representing to 40 % of the population of the country.
The dramatic growth of poultry as a modern agro industry since the mid 1960s has significantly improved the diet of Pakistanis. However, it has undesirable environmental side effects. The commercial production of eggs and poultry meat has also been subjected to business cycles and periodic outbreaks of disease. This highlight the stabilizing role of the household poultry are still kept as free range and managed traditionally.
The average milk yield of cattle and buffalo is remarkably low as compared to average milk yield per animal in developed countries. The main reason of low yield of livestock is their inferior genetic make-up and health problems. To increase the milk yield, it is necessary to uplift livestock health through modern technologies.
Meat quality has assumed a greater significance and public attention. There is a strong demand for meat products that are high in protein content, low in fat, cholesterol and calories. Other concerns are about food safety and hygiene, especially the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and chemical residues. In poultry production, numerous reports in the literature can be found pertaining to the uses of proboscis or direct fed microbial bacteria, the addition of useful effective microorganism culture EM-Biovet to diet or drinking water, to improve production performance and quality of products.
The use of EM-Biovet in Poultry & Animal farming have been shown successful results.
1. Broilers weight increase rapidly by consuming same food if EM-Biovet is added in the drinking water at the rate of 2 ml/liter of water.
2. In Pakistan, by the use of EM-Biovet, broiler weights increase up to 215 gm per bird within 6 weeks.
3. It also decreases death rate. In Korea death rate decreased from 13% to 4% by using EM-Biovet.
4. It also improves broiler’s health and meat quality. (In Philippine, due to the use of EM, expenditure to check diseases in a flock of 30 thousand broilers decreased from 100% to 26%.
5. In Pakistan, broiler immune-suppression is common. Experimental use of EM with Rani Khate in broiler increases antibodies more than three times.
6. It increases milk production in animals.
7. It improves health and quality of meat production.
8. By use of EM in pregnant animals healthy babies are born.
9. It improves digestive system of animals.
10. It improves immunity and animal health.
11. It has also shown better results of artificial insemination and reduced genetic disorder.
12. Beneficial microorganisms of Biovet work against the bacteria of fever, pneumonia, skin worms and purging.
13. Degnala is common disease in Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, in which animals feet and tail get wounds. Dr. Azhar Maqbool worked on this disease. He gave 2ml EM-Biovet in 1 liter water to the diseased animals. After one week animals were healthy. Govt. of Pakistan awarded him a cash prize of rupees 25,000.
(Chantsawang, et al (1995) conducted a study to determine the effects of EM supplied in drinking water and feed on growth egg production and waste characteristics, of Japanese Quail.
