AvailabIlity of Dutch cattle: Pakistan can increase milk production  
By Husain Gardezi

Dairy sector is one of the most important sectors of the country’s economy and undoubtedly Pakistan has tremendous potential to vigorously exploit the dairy sector.

With the demand for milk, the major output of fast growing livestock sector, and other dairy products increasing with each passing day, it becomes necessary for Pakistani dairy farmers to upgrade local practices using practical solutions and international expertise to yield more profitability and increase production of milk, which in turn will result in increasing the productivity of this sector and generate more employment opportnities, especially in the rural areas where more of the dairy farms are located.

The Netherlands, the 2nd biggest agricultural exporter in the world, are the cradle of the famous Holstein Friesian cow, and have perfected this healthy and fertile breed over the centuries.

Dutch Holstein Frisian cows, which have been bred over generations to become the premier breed of cattle for high quality and high quantity dairy production, can produce no less than 30,000kg of milk in a lifetime; a yield that is unmatched worldwide.

Average lifetime production of Dutch dairy cows, which have a productive life span of 1.284 (milking) days, is 30.999 kg of milk per year with 2.443 kg fat and protein, which is also the highest in the world.

Dutch cows have the highest longevity in comparison with all other countries.

The Dutch animals have been free from all major diseases for a long period of time and the Dutch have the world's best system in place to guarantee the health of all of its animals.

The Dutch dairy sector has therefore been declared as having ‘negligible risk’ by the World Organisation for Animal Health and its Office of International des Epizooties (OIE) which is a Paris-based inter-governmental organisation with Pakistan being one of its members.

Not even a single case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, commonly known as the ‘mad cow disease’, has been reported in the last few years in the Netherlands.

That is why, the Dutch dairy sector is accredited for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis and for Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) and BSE.

The Dutch cows also have the ability to quickly adapt to different environments – from extreme heat to the freezing temperatures and so, there is no doubt that Pakistan can also be a safe home to the Holstein Friesian cows.

The availability of worldclass Dutch dairy cattle presents a unique opportunity to Pakistan’s growing dairy sector because the Netherlands excels in innovative agro-food technology and has the highest yielding cows - Holstein Friesian cow - in the world.

Following the resumption of Pak-Dutch cattle trade, the Dutch government as well as its private sector is also happy to share this knowledge with Pakistan which could make the Netherlands the answer to modernising Pakistan’s dairy future.

The statement of Rick Slettenhaar, Head of Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is also very encouraging.

He, at an event held recently in Lahore, had said, “We can provide the required techniques and expertise to realise the full genetic potential of the world class Dutch Holstein Friesian cow, tremendously raising the profitability of dairy farming.

These are skills, animals and products that Pakistan’s dairy sector could hugely benefit from.”

The good thing is that the Netherlands also provide the best feed, medicine and management skills to fulfil the complete genetic potential of these cows, tremendously raising the potential profitability of dairy farming in Pakistan.

The Dutch can provide all the required techniques and expertise to realise the full genetic potential of the world class Dutch Holstein Friesian cows.

Moreover, the Netherlands can also provides the best support services, capital goods and management skills to fulfil the requirements for using complete genetic potential of these cows.

Pak-Dutch engagements in the dairy sector would be lucrative for all parties involved and would increase the quality and quantity of milk production in Pakistan.

Dutch Holstein Frisian cows have an average total life span 5 years and 10 months, which is the highest in the world and an average lifetime production 30,999 kg of milk per year with 2,443 kg fat and protein, which is also the highest in the world – characteristics the Pakistani dairy sector could attain with the right management and the right cattle.

Once the famous Dutch dairy cows, the world’s highest yielding cows which are now available to Pakistan, are here, the Netherlands can provide Pakistan every kind of support, from the management of dairy farm to training of farmers and handling of cows, in order to ensure that Pakistan joins the group of countries which have transformed and modernised their dairy industry and are getting the desired milk production.

Pakistan can for sure increase its milk production to between 6,000 to 8,000 litres per animal per annum from the current level of about 2,000 litres by utilising the true potential of the Dutch cows.

Although world’s best cattle is now available to Pakistan, but our government, especially dairy industry, needs to invest more money, especially for farm managers’ training because managing dairy animals is the one of the most complex jobs in the world.

Dairy farming professionals in Pakistan need to brush-up their practical skills in a way that they are able to communicate with their cows in order to identify issues in the farm management and provide corrective measures for enhanced productivity.

With such good management, Dutch dairy animals in Pakistan can produce at the same high levels as they do in the Netherlands and the rest of the world.