Production performance of Sahiwal cattle as affected by fat feeding: Fat feeding in Sahiwal cows

Pakistan is basically agricultural country having livestock as its major sub-sector. Livestock sector contributes about 53.2% of agriculture value added and 11.4 % to national GDP.The role of livestock is commendable; especially in rural areas, where 30-35 million populations are engaged in livestock raising activities and deriving 30-40% of their income from it.Buffalo and cattle are main dairy animals of Pakistan. However, their level of productivity is much lower than their actual genetic potential.Among various factors, feeding has been identified as the main issue in this regard. Animals undergo negative energy balance during their early lactation.The increased urbanization along with rising prices of cereal grains and conventional feed sources has forced the scientists to formulate the cheap and nutritive rations for livestock in general and for dairy animals in particular.To overcome this problem fat feeding has been practiced in dairy animals and is gaining popularity gradually.Fat feeding to dairy animals has certain merits e.g increases the energy concentration of the diet for high milk producers,improves the reproductive performance,lessens various metabolic disorders.