introduction

Department of Livestock Production was established in the Faculty of Animal Production & Technology when the College of Veterinary Sciences Lahore was upgraded to the status of an independent University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. This university is the only in the country exclusively engaged in imparting education in the fields of veterinary and animal sciences. The department of Livestock Production is actively engaged in imparting education and hands on training in the fields of molecular genetics, quantitative genetics, management and production of various species of livestock especially large and small ruminants. The department offers courses on breeding and genetics and livestock production / management at undergraduate (D.V.M., B.S. (Hons) Poultry Science, B.S. (Hons) Dairy Technology and B.S. (Hons) Fisheries and Aqua Culture) and post graduate level (M. Phil. & Ph.D.). The department offers postgraduate degree programs i.e. M. Phil. and Ph.D. in disciplines of Animal Breeding and Genetics and Livestock Management. Department also offers courses to Two years diploma course Livestock Assistant programme.

Staff Position

Chairman / Professor
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah

Associate Professor
Prof. Dr. Khalid Javed
Dr. Jalees Ahmad Bhatti
Dr. Ahmad Ali

Assistant Professor
Dr. Nisar Ahmad
Dr. Afzal Ali

Lecturer
Imtiaz Ahmed Sajid
Muhammad Qamar Shahid
Imran Mohsin
Hamid Mustafa Pasha

HEC Approved Supervisors

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah  
Prof. Dr. Khalid Javed 
Dr. Ahmad Ali

Facilities

  Courses Offered

Undergraduate:
DVM

Post Graduate:
Animal Breeding and Genetics (M.Phil and Ph.D.)

Livestock Management (M.Phil and Ph.D.)

B. S. Dairy Technology

B. S. Fisheries

B. S. Poultry

LA class

 Faculty Development

Imtiaz Ahmed Sajid andMuhammad Qamar Shahid lecturers in Animal Breeding & Genetics and Livestock Management respectively have proceeded abroad to Australia and USA to pursue their PhD degree programs.

Development Activities

• Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetics Labs have been established at Ravi campus
• Small Ruminant Training and Research Center established at Ravi Campus and proving training and research facilities to the undergraduate and post graduate students
• Establishment of Dairy Animals Training and Research Center at Ravi Campus is under-way.
• National conference on “Latest Trends in Livestock Genomics” at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, June 24-25, 2009 was organized in collaboration with Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

Projects:
Ongoing Development projects

• Establishment of Poultry and Dairy Animals Training and Research Center, at UVAS, New Campus, Pattoki (432.00 millions)
• Feeding management for optimum growth, early maturity and first lactation performance in Sahiwal cattle at UVAS, New Campus, Pattoki ( 6.669)
• Phenotypic and genetic characterization of some indigenous breeds of ovine and caprine species in Punjab at UVAS, New Campus, Pattoki (5.061)
• Cytogenetic Screening of Buffalo bulls and Replacement Heifers for Genetic Improvement in Punjab at UVAS, New Campus, Pattoki (1.726)
• Genetic diversity of Pakistani Sheep and Goat breeds by analysis of Mitochondrial D-loop region (HEC, 6.00 millions)
• Identification of molecular markers for fecundity in Goat breeds of Pakistan (ALP, 9.75 millions)
• Phenotypic and genetic characterization of indigenous breeds of Caprine and Ovine species in Punjab (ALP, 5.06 millions)

Research projects Completed

1. Establishment of Small Ruminants Training and Research Center, at UVAS, New Campus, Pattoki (38.05 millions)
2. Genetic characterization of Buffalo breeds of Pakistan by Microsatellite analysis
3. Collection of blood samples and DNA Extraction from Sheep breeds of the Punjab. (University Research Fund)
4. Collection of blood samples and DNA Extraction from Goat breeds of the Punjab. (University Research Fund)
5. Detection of Polymorphism of Prion Protein gene in nine breeds of sheep of Pakistan.
6. Genetic differences of Bos indicus, Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis at PRKA gene
7. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection of Prion protein gene in five Goat breeds of Punjab.
8. Developed SOFTBOS-a Management Information System for cattle and buffalo
9. Developed SOFTGEEP-a Management Information System for sheep and goat
10. Development of SOFTFIZIBLE for dairy, beef and mutton industry for feasibility reports.

Future Projects Planned:

• Microclimatic modifications and molecular basis for breeding performance to increase summer milk production in Buffalo (Pak-US joint, 5.00 millions)
• Feeding management for optimum growth, early maturity and first lactation performance in Sahiwal cattle (ALP, 6.671 millions)
• Phenotypic characterization of sheep breeds of the Punjab. (M.Phil Thesis research)

Books Published

• Feed and Fodder (1995)
• World Food Day (1996)
• Application of Molecular Biology Tools for the Improvement of Livestock (2007)
• Livestock Resources of Pakistan (2008)
• Animal Breeding and Genetics (Urdu)
• Livestock Management (Urdu)

HEC Approved Supervisors

• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah
• Prof. Dr. Khalid Javed
• Dr. Ahmad Ali

Seminars, Workshops or Conferences organized

• Impact of global change on the availability of fodder and forage and performance of livestock in South Asia. 15-16 December, 2005
• Application of molecular biology tools for the improvement of livestock. 14-16, December, 2006.
• National workshop on “Techniques in Transgenics” at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, September 2, 2008.
• National conference on “Latest Trends in Livestock Genomics” at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, June 24-25, 2009.
• National seminar on Dairy Farming: A Profitable Future Enterprise, April 7, 2010. Jointly organized by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (ALP-AS082) and Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.

  Research Publications

• Abdullah, M., I. Mohsin, J. A. Bhatti, K. Javed, M. E. Babar, M. Nasir and M. A. Jabbar. (2010). Effect of methionine supplementation .on the performance of Nili Ravi Buffaloes. Revista Veterinerae 59(supplement):638- 642
• Karakus, K., E. Eyduran, T., Aygun and K. Javed. (2010). Apprmodel describing some testicular characteristics in Norduz lambs. J. Anim. And Plant Sciences. 20(1):1-4
• Nadeem, M., M. Abdullah and M. Y. Ellahi. 2010.  Effect of incorporating rape seed oil on quality of ice cream. Mediterr. J. Nutr. Metab. DOI 10/1007/s12349-010-0012-0
• Fiaz, M., R.H. Usmani, M. Abdullah and T. Ahmad. 2010. Evaluation of semen quality of Holstein Friesian and Jersey bulls maintained under subtropical environment. Pak. Vet. J. 30(2):75-78.
• Ali A, 2010. River Buffalo facing planned genetic drift. Pakistani Nili Ravi Buffalo an example: Proceedings of the 9TH World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina April 25 – 28th, 2010Rivesta Veterinaria,
• Ali, A   2010   . Comparative Incidence of Folate Sensitive Fragile Sites in Sheep. Conference Proceedings, 19th International Colloquium on Domestic Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping, Chromosome Research. June 6-8th Krakow, Poland.
• Muhammad Akhtur Qureshi, Masroor Ellahi Babar and Ahmad Ali* 2010. Environmental and Genetic Factors Influencing Performance Traits of Kajli  Sheep in Pakistan. Pakistan J. Zool. 42: 339-343
• Muhammad Akhtur Qureshi, Masroor Ellahi Babar and Ahmad Ali 2010. Performance of Kajli Sheep in Pakistan: Reproduction as Influenced by Environment. Pakistan J. Zool.  42: 413-417
• Tanveer Hussain, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Asif Nadeem, Rahila Jabeen and Ahmad Ali 2010. Phylogenetic Analysis of Kundi Buffalo Breed of Pakistan through Mitochondrial D-Loop Region. Pakistan J. Zoology. Suppl.9: 341-346 (0.189).
• Babar, M.E., M. Abdullah, A. Nadeem and A. U. Haq. 2009. Prion protein gene polymorphisms in four goat breeds of Pakistan. Mol Biol Rep. 36:141-144. DOI 10.1007/s11033-007-9162-7.
• Babar, M. E. and K. Javed. 2009. Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Reproductive Traits in Lohi Sheep. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A. Animal Science. 59:48-52.
• Khalil-ur Rehman, K. Javed, M.T. Tunio and Z. H. Kuthu. 2009. Passive surveillance of gastrointestinal parasites in buffaloes of Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat districts of The Punjab. The J. Anim. & Plant Sci., 19 (1):17-19.
• Bhatti, J. A., M. Younas, M. Abdullah, M. E. Babar and H. Nawaz, 2009. Feed intake, weight gain and haematology in Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers fed on mott grass and berseem fodder substituted with saltbush (Atriplex amnicola). Pakistan Vet. J., 29(3): 133-137.
• Qureshi, M. A., K. Javed, Z. A. Jarral and S. A. Khan. 2008. Environmental factors affecting performance traits of crossbred and local dairy cows in Mirpur Azd Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan J.  Agri. Sci., 45 (2):162-171.
• Burque, A. R. M. Abdullah, M. E. Babar, K. Javed and H. Nawaz. 2008. Effect of urea feeding on feed intake and performance of male buffalo calves. The J. Anim. Plant Sci. 18 (1):1-6.
• Babar, M. E., B.F. Benkel, A. Farid, M. Nawaz, A. Naseem, M. Abdullah, A. Ali, M. Imran and   R. Jabeen. 2008. Comparative sequence analysis of PRKAG3 gene between Pakistani buffalo and cattle breeds. Pakistan J. Zoology. 40(6):441-445.
• Ali. A, P.D. Thomsen and M. E. Babar. 2008. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization of cattle and sheep chromosomes with cloned human fragile-X DNA.  Molecular Biology Reports. 36:619-622.
• Ali. A, M. E. Babar, M. Adullah. 2008. Induction of folate sensitive chromosomal fragile sites in Pakistani Lohi sheep (Ovis aries). Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science. 21:1103-08
• Ali A, M. Abdullah, M. E. Babar, K. Javed, A. Nadeem. 2008 Expression and Identification of folate sensitive fragile sites in British Suffolk sheep (Ovis aries) Journal of Genetics, 87:219-227.
• Babar, M. E., M. Imran, M. Nawaz, B. F. Benkel, H. Farid, R. Jabeen, M. Abdullah, M. Javed and Mohsin Javad. 2008. Genetic Identification of Three Pakistani Buffalo Breeds through a Homozygosity Pattern in the PRKAG3 Gene. Pakistan J. Zoology. 40(6):409-415.
• Babar, M.E., M. Nawaz, A. Naseem, M. Abdullah, M. Imran, R. Jabeen, S. A. Chatha, A. Nawaz, H. Mustafa and A. Nadeem. 2008. Prion Protein Genotypes in Pakistani Goats. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. Sci. 21(7):936-940.
• Akhtar, P., M. Abdullah, M. Younas and M. A. Mirza. 2007. Heritability estimates of some growth traits of Hissardale sheep in Pakistan. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 77(2):181-183. (Impact Factor 0.09)
• Sajid, I. A., M. E. Babar and K. Javed (2007). Genetic diversity of Nili-Ravi from Nili and Ravi Buffalo breeds of Pakistan. VIII Buffalo Congress, Caserta-Italy.
• Babar, M.E., H. Farid, B.F. Benkel, M. Abdullah, I.A. Sajid, A. Nadeem and T. Hussain (2007). Evaluation of AMPK genes as candidates for production traits in buffalo breeds of Pakistan. VIII World Buffalo Congress, Caserta, Italy.
• Ahmad, I., M.A. Jabbar, T.N. Pasha and M. Abdullah (2007). Milk yield and nutrient utilization in Nili-Ravi buffaloes administered bovine somatotropic hormone. Indian J. Anim. Sci., 2007
• Babar, M. E., F. Hussain, M. Abdullah, Q. Khan,J. Ahmad, A. Nadeem and B. F. Benkel (2006). Genetic variability at seven codons of the prion protein gene in nine sheep breeds of Pakistan. 30th International conference on Animal Genetics, August 20-25, 2006, Porto Seguro, Brazil.
• Babar, M.E., F. Hussain, B.F. Benkel, Q. Khan, J. Ahmad and A. Nadeem (2006). Genetic variability at eight codons of the PrP gene in nine sheep breeds of Pakistan. 8th World Congress on Genetic Applied to Livestock Production. August 13-18, 2006, Delo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
• Ahmad, M., J.A. Bhatti, M. Abdullah and M.Q Shahid (2006). Effect of bovine somatotropic (bST) hormone on feed intake and production performance in Nili-Ravi buffaloes. Proc. of XII AAAP congress, September 18-22, 2006, BEXCO, Busan, Korea.
• Sajid, I.A., K, Javed and N. Ahmed (2006). Phylogenetic relationships among three buffalo breeds of the Punjab-Pakistan. Proceedings of 34th Pakistan International SAARC Countries Science Conference. 20-22 February.
• Jaffar, S.S., K. Javed and T.E. Lodhi (2006). An evaluation of micro credit schemes of small and medium enterprise development authority (SMEDA). J. Anim. Plant Sci. 16 (3-4): 111-113.
• Hussain, Z., K Javed, S.M. I Hussain and G.S. Kiyani (2006). Some Environmental Effects on Productive Performance of Nili-Ravi Buffaloes in Azad Kashmir. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 16 (3-4): 66-69.
• Hussain, Z., K. Javed, S.M. I Hussain and G.S. Kiyani (2006). Reproductive Performance of Nili-Ravi Buffaloes in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 16 (1-2): 7-9

Proceedings

• Abdullah, M., M. Saleem, J.A. Bhatti, M.E. Babar, M.A. Jabbar and I.A. Sajid. 2008.  Milking performance, blood biochemistry and feed efficiency as affected by feeding various levels of concentrate supplement under intensive management in Beetal goats.. 13th Animal Science Congress, Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies, Hanoi, Vietnam, September 22 – 26, 2008
• Abdullah, M., M.Q Shahid., K. Javed, J. A. Bhatti, M. E. Babar and I.A. Zahid.2008. Effect of premilking stimulation practices on milking performance in buffaloes during machine milking. International Conference on “Future Prospects of Dairy Production in Pakistan”. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, November 3-4, 2008
• Abdullah, M., Z. Iqbal, J.A. Bhatti, K. Javed and M.E. Babar.2008. Performance of female Sahiwal calves offered varying levels of concentrate supplement. 35th All Pakistan Science Conference, “Genomics for Health and Prosperity”. Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science & University of Karachi, December 20-23, 2008
• Javed, K, A. Iram, A Sattar, A. Ali, M. Abdullah and M.E. Babar. 2008. Some environmental sources of variation in pre-weaning growth traits in Lohi sheep. 35th All Pakistan Science Conference, “Genomics for Health and Prosperity”. Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science & University of Karachi, December 20-23, 2008

  Invited Lectures

• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah delivered a lecture as invited speaker at Seminar on Nutrition  and Management of Dairy Cows and Buffaloes organized by US Soybean Export Council Inc.,Hotel Marriot, Karachi on June 22, 23 – 2007.

• Prof. Dr. Khalid Javed, presented a paper on “Estimated Breeding Values and Genetic Trend in a pure bred herd of Holstein Friesian cattle in Punjab Province of Pakistan” at National Research Conference organized by University of South Asia at Holiday Inn Lahore on 29.06.2007

 Measures taken to Enhance Academics

• Molecular Cytogenetics and Genomics Lab. has been established in the department. Work on breed identification on genomic level using Mitochondrial D-loop Region for various breeds of buffalo, cattle, sheep and goats is in progress. Whereas work on prion protein gene, PRKA gene and parentage analysis (forensic cases) is also underway.
• Department has established a Small Ruminants Training and Research Center, Pattoki. This center will be helpful in hands on training and research on different aspects of sheep and goats production for under and post graduate students of the university.
• Training and Research facilities will be available to undergraduate and postgraduate students of this department as well as other departments under the  project “Establishment of Poultry & Dairy Animals Training and Research Center Pattoki, worth of Rs. 432 millions.
• 6 projects, worth of Rs. 110.50 million under PARB have been submitted. On the implementation of these projects latest facilities related to the livestock and dairy, will be available to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Two software’s for livestock performance data recording and their manipulation for large and small ruminants have been developed. Also soft wares for preparing feasibility reports for different livestock farms under different management conditions have also been developed.

Research Priorities

Development and evaluation of high yielding fodder/forage and establishment of viable grazing management system.
Studies on improved breeding, feeding, housing and reproduction management to maximize livestock production.
Characterization, conservation and genetic evaluation of farm animals through conventional and biotechnological techniques.