White Gold of Pakistan: Milk

Pakistan is ranked in top 5 dairy milk producing countries of the world. This in value terms is tremendous. What the department of trade, agriculture, milk and livestock needs to do along with the support of federal government is to promote the animal feed industry and improve veterinary services of dairy animals across Pakistan and improve the processing, storage and transportation of milk in hygienic condition up to dairy factories.

In value terms each litre of good quality milk sold in international market after tetra long life packing and shipping cost with profit, can be sold at less than $ 1 per litre and with Pakistan’s milk production at 290 billion litres a year, this sector alone could boost the exports of Pakistan and provide much needed employment and income to the small dairy farmers, and earn excellent foreign exchange for the government.

Some of the main ways to boost dairy industry, is to remove all duties for three years on all milk chillers, so that more milk chillers of better quality and larger capacity can be set up in more areas of the country, and also remove all duties on extra large refrigerated bulk milk carrying trucks, so that more of these could be made available to carry larger quantities of milk over longer distances.

This incentive in the short term will boost the formal milk sector in the long term and generate good income for the government. Also in medium term, agriculture department should develop better fodder through high yield crops. Livestock department and formal dairy industries should also provide good quality veterinary services at affordable cost to all dairy farmers, to improve health and milk yield of animals in all areas of Pakistan where livestock is available

Sheep Shearing Tips

• Shearing sheep allows you to harvest the wool while simultaneously making the sheep more comfortable for the summer. Depending on how many sheep you have, shearing can be a long, tiring event that lasts all day or several days. There are several tips that can make the process go smoothly.

Dry Sheep

• Make sure that you get the sheep under cover, and keep them them there, the night before shearing. Shearing dry wool is significantly easier than shearing wet wool. If you have hired professional shearers, they may refuse to work with wet wool at all.

Sorting

• Before shearing starts, sort your sheep and keep the sheep with different wool types separate. This will help you when you grade the wool later. Because any colored wool can contaminate white wool and lower its price, always shear your black, colored and spotted sheep last.

Catering

• Shearing is tiring work and you probably don't want to follow it by cooking a meal. Prepare a meal the night before or put food into a crock pot that cooks while you are working. You might ask someone uninvolved in the shearing to cook while the shearing is going on. Also keeping plenty of water and coffee on hand can keep things running smoothly.

Cord Placement

• You might cut through your own electrical cord while shearing. To make sure that your equipment is protected, drape the cord over your hand and keep it out of the way.

Sheep Fast

• Do not feed or water the sheep the day before the shearing. This will make them more docile for the person shearing them, and it will be more comfortable for the sheep as well, as they will have empty stomachs.

Clean Area

• Things will go much more smoothly if you shear on an appropriate surface and keep that surface clean. Shear your sheep on a clean and dry surface. Wood, concrete, canvas and carpet are all good surfaces for sheep shearing. After each sheep, sweep the area quickly to ensure neither the shearer nor the sheep will slip on the floor.

Shearing Only

• While it may be tempting to worm the sheep or to trim their feet while you have them gathered but extra tasks will drastically slow down your ability to shear them. If you have extra people coming in to help you shear, clear it with them before you add any tasks to the list. Shearing is hard work, and other people might not be up for any additional tasks.

Original Post Here

7 (Yes, 7) Causes of Colony Collapse Disorder

Research into the honey bee malady has taught us a lot about bees. We might not know exactly what causes colony collapse disorder, but we now understand seven key maladies that may be contributing.

by Kim Flottum

After four years of intense study, research, sampling, and just plain guessing, scientists have made more discoveries in the last year than all the honey bee research in the last 25 years put together. Still, Colony Collapse Disorder is still mostly a mystery. What they have found, though, is helping honey bees and beekeepers. Here's a look:


Poor nutrition.
Honey bees forced to dine on only a single source of pollen have problems. Imagine living for a month on only Twinkies. The first one is great, the second good... the 123rd is disgusting, and, you are slowly starving to death. When researchers looked closely at the diet for our honey bees, they saw the problem and todayn - after four years – there are almost a dozen healthy food choices on the market we can feed our bees (including Megabee and Nozeivit, sold by Dadant; Ultra-Bee, sold by Mann Lake; and Feed Bee, sold by Ellingsons’s Inc.) That's progress. (But look at your grocery store and see how many kinds of dog food there are... wouldn't you think hard working honey bees should have the same choices?).



Old pests revisited.
A common problem with honey bees now is that old pest called Nosema. Simply put, this one-celled parasite damages the stomach of a bee, shortening its lifespan, and the damage allows some of these other pests entry into the bee itself. It's like having a bad cut, then having it get infected. It's a no-win for the bees.



New pests.
Several new viruses (including an insect iridescent virus we nicknamed Ivy) and a couple of diseases were found. By themselves, though, none seem to be causing terrible problems. But now, after four years, we have identified these nasties and know what to look for... and maybe even what they do when combined with other problems.



The worst pest.
But after 25 years we still haven't found a good way to control Varroa mites. Scientists have discovered that these mites are even worse than we thought. When bees are attacked by these mites their immune systems shut down and the bees can't handle other pests and diseases. So the mite does its own damage and then makes it easier for other pests to do even more damage.



Systemic pesticides.
Incredibly small amounts of new pesticides – notably, Bayer's clothianidan, one of its neonicotinoid pesticides – are showing up in honey bee food fed to young bees. These sublethal amounts seem to be much more lethal for young bees than old bees, but it was the old bees that these chemicals were tested on. When only old bees are tested and they seem unaffected the pesticide is claimed to be safe to use. Maybe not.



Fungicides.
Until now considered safe to use around bees, these agrochemicals have been used for years without apparent problems. When honey bees are exposed to new formulations, many with the active ingredient prochloraz, however, it tends to harm the digestive flora bees (and us) use to help digest food. No digestion, and bees starve. That's a problem.



All Together. Now.
By themselves, none o these issues is fatal to honey bees or their young. But more and more evidence is piling up that when bees are exposed to three or four of these at the same time, an individual bee is essentially overwhelmed. But rather than all die at once, they simply live shorter lives. Shorten the life of a typical honey bee by 5 or 6 days (out of a possible 45 or so in the summer), and you destroy the complex society of the colony, and soon, there are no bees to carry on the work.


Colony Collapse Disorder is, it seems, simply a symptom of too much of all of these in some combination. The researchers haven't found the complete answer yet... which virus, disease, chemical and immune system assault is the most lethal, but they are closer to the answer, and more importantly, have better advice for beekeepers on how to avoid these problems.

How Beekeepers Can Help

Make sure bees have a diverse and varied diet. Many floral sources are needed for a healthy, wholesome, season-long diet. And make sure those flowers have not been sprayed with the new insecticides and fungicides that are so detrimental to the young. And feeding bees is a good idea. Use one of the newer substitute diets available from the supply companies and feed whenever there's a food shortage or lack of variety. It will only help.


Make sure you control Varroa mites in your hives, keeping the populations as low as possible all year long. Use bees resistant to mites as much as possible. Trap mites using drone brood and screened bottom boards, and if treatment is necessary, use the safe organic acids or essential oils.


To keep stresses as low as possible in your hives, keep your colonies in full sun, all day long. This reduces mite populations and even small hive beetle infestations a great deal. And, winter your bees with more than enough stored food, with good wind and cold protection to help them through this tough time.


Originally Posted Here

Need of New Technology in Agriculture

Medicinal Use of Olive Oil

OLIVE oil, the world’s most commonly eaten mono-unsaturated oil, has been cultivated for centuries around the Mediterranean. For 4,000 years in the Mediterranean cultures, olive oil has been widely used — from money to medicine. Not only does it taste good, but there is a mass of evidence that a diet based on olive oil can promote longer life and may prevent some of the diseases associated with our usual western eating habits. Today 99 per cent of olive oil is produced in countries that rim the Mediterranean Sea with a trade of multi billion dollar per year. Nature has also bestowed upon Pakistan a large area (from Bhera up to Attock) favourable for olive production but unfortunately neither the farmer nor the government has taken it in consideration seriously.

We can also produce a huge amount of olive oil that will not only bring foreign exchange for the country but also a low price product will be available for local consumption. On closer inspection, this oil has proved to be more than just a source of mono-unsaturated fat.

Olive oil contains a wide variety of valuable antioxidants that are not found in other oils. Hydroxytyrosol is thought to be the main antioxidant compound in olives, and believed to play a significant role in the many health benefits attributed to olive oil. Epidemiological studies suggest that olive oil has a protective effect against certain malignant tumours in the breast, prostate, endometrium and digestive tract. Research has revealed that the “type” rather than the “quantity” of fat seems to have more implications for cancer incidence.

Olive oil can reduce oxidative damage to cells’ genetic material, a process that can initiate cancer development. This could be related to oleic acid, which is the predominant mono-unsaturated fatty acid in olive oil. It has been demonstrated that the addition of olive oil to a diet that is not changed in any other way has a lowering effect on blood pressure.

An olive oil rich diet is not only a good alternative in the treatment of diabetes; it may also help prevent or delay the onset of the disease by preventing insulin resistance and its possible harmful implications by raising HDL cholesterol, lowering triglycerides, and ensuring better blood sugar level control and lower blood pressure. When it comes to heart health, virgin olive oil may have an edge over other vegetable fats.

New research suggests that virgin olive oil may be particularly effective at lowering heart disease risk because of its high level of antioxidant plant compounds.

Virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols, showed stronger heart-health effects than the more extensively processed “non-virgin” variety. It helps to ward off harmful blood clots in people with high cholesterol.

Like all other fats and oils, olive oil is high in calories which could suggest that it would contribute to obesity. However, evidence shows that there is less obesity amongst Mediterranean people, who consume the most olive oil in the world. It has been demonstrated that an olive oil rich diet leads to greater and long lasting weight loss than a low fat diet. Olive oil tastes good and it is a stimulus to eat vegetables and pulses.

Olive oil bolsters the immune system against external attacks from microorganisms, bacteria or viruses. The fatty acids in olive oil are good allies in lowering important immunological parameters. Olive oil is also good for the stomach, hepato-bilary system, pancreas, and intestines. It helps with anti-aging, osteoporosis, cognitive function and skin damage. It is also beneficial to consume olive oil during pregnancy and whilst breast feeding.

Constituents: Leaves Oleuropein, apegenin, calcium, cinchonine, choline, luteoline,FruitOleuropein, momsaturated fatty acids, beta-carotene, caffeic acid, calcium, verbascocide, uvaol, Minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Iron, Zink, and Copper.

Vitamins: carotenes, riboflavin, and thiamin, oleic acid, Oil66% oleic acid, 12% linoleic acid, 9% palmitic acid, 5% eicosenoic acid and 5% palmitoleic acid. Olive oil may contain up to 1.5% of an acyclic triterpene hydrocarbon, carotenoids, chlorophyll, squalene Gum Benzoic acid and olivile.

By Naved Ahmad

Dawn Economic and Business Review

Indoor winter 'farm' is producing micro vegetables

By STEVE EDWARDS
Daily News correspondent

In Alaska, giant cabbages and other huge plants generally rule the garden

But a couple of local growers are going the opposite direction -- they're cultivating micro produce. Sioux-z Humphrey Marshall and Rusty Foreaker have teamed up to create Northern Latitude Controlled Environment Agriculture.

In a 1,300-square-foot warehouse on Arctic Boulevard, they are growing "micro greens" indoors in a custom-designed hydroponic system. Among the greens they produce are broccoli, pac choi, arugula, beets, cress, endive, basil, cilantro, radish, pea shoots and corn shoots.

"People are familiar with sprouts," Marshall says. "If you wait a little longer, you have micro greens. You harvest them when they are between five and 20 days old.

"You're harvesting baby plants, but they taste exactly like their full-grown vegetable counterparts. Actually, sometimes you have really intense flavors. The radish has a crazy strong, fabulous flavor."

Like many new food trends, Marshall says, the micro green concept can be traced to California. In fact, a California company was supplying the micro greens in Alaska. However, Marshall says wholesaler Food Services of America is now using Northern Latitude's produce.

While most people probably haven't used micro greens at home, they might have tasted Northern Latitude's foods at several of Anchorage's restaurants, including Hot Stixx, Bear Tooth Grill, Ginger, Kincaid Grill, Marx Bros. and Southside Bistro.

"We've been selling to local restaurants since August," Marshall says. "We've kind of been experimenting with shelf life and such."

Right now, she says, the produce lasts about two weeks if properly cared for in the refrigerator. The company is selling 4-ounce containers to local restaurants for $18.

Marshall says they hope the company will grow and create a unique Alaska product.

"We think this has the ability to make a profit and serve a real need here," she says. "This is something that can be sustainable in rural Alaska. You can turn a closet in a school into a small place to grow micro greens. People won't be getting an apple, but they will be getting fresh produce."

Mange Problem in Cattle and Canines

Mange is a very irritating skin disease which makes livestock owner very distressed. The disease is caused by the mites named Sarcoptes scabiei var bovis and it is not only common in livestock including goats, sheeps, pigs but also in canines (dogs). If proper precautions are not taken than human contacting the infected animal could also catch the disease.However not all kinds of mites are not taken man as host. Older animals are more susceptible for the disease then younger animals due to weak immune system.

The mites responsible for the disease hid themselves into the skin or hair follicle depending upon the physical condition of the host and causes extreme itching. The infested animal looses its concentration in eat and started to loose weight. Hair loss is also a side effect of the problem. Due to constant constant rubbing by the host to reduce the itch which often result into bleeding and leads towards formation of scabs. 

The remedies of mange is expensive and time taking. The poor farmers of developing countries may not have access or financial backing to the cure and suffer financial losses. Mr Shri Ram Kishan a farmer from India came up with less expensive treatment for mange when he was herding his pigs.

He uses pure diesel and added phyenyl in it with a ratio of 10:1 (10 parts diesel and 1 part phenyl). The solution is then applied externally on the infected animal's body by spray pump or gunny bag only once. The process is repeated after 15 day if necessary. Usually within 3 days of the treatment mites are reduced and animal started to graze normally and started to gain weight again.

In the recognition his innovative and indegenious cure his story was included in a publication named Farms Innovators 2010 published by Indian Council of Agricultural Research. 

Advice : Please consult the local vet before starting the treatment and observe proper safety and health precautions while working.

Written by Mr A. Queue. He is blogger and engineer with a taste of farming. You can reach him by mailAgroFarming[at]groups.facebook.com

Returns from goat farming

Sheep and goat farming has a great scope in Sindh due to climatic conditions, canal network, forest areas, pastures within valleys, grass along canal and road sides, and efficient labour force.

The rearing of small animals has greater advantages over other livestock. This business not only supplements the farmer’s income but also compliments crop production by providing means of subsistence and employment in rural area. The province is home to many important sheep and goat breeds.

Small ruminants for various reasons play an important role in agriculture since they do not require costly inputs. Their meat, milk and the converted dairy products are valuable goods. The products of small ruminant such as wool and skin are of secondary importance. Small ruminant farming is an integral part of agricultural production system. These provide protein, particularly to those living in rural areas.

Goat and sheep flocks are maintained through traditional production system. Their feeding requirement is met through grazing. Their main management is climate, vegetation, resources, disease control and feed supplement.

In a study, it was found that the majority 59 per cent animals are fed from fields, 20 per cent use stall feeding and 21 per cent grazing as well as stall feeding. About 51 per cent feeding is dependent on tree leaves, cut fodder and kitchen waste - 29 per cent on tree leaves and 20 per cent on cut fodder.

The major portion of milk is consumed by kids/lambs and the remaining quantity by the family. A very small quantity of milk is marketed after mixing it with cow and buffalo milk.

The sheep producer use traditional method of shearing i.e., cut by simple scissor. A majority of the 92 per cent respondents said that they shear their animal twice a year while eight per cent did it once. About 56 per cent sell wool on per sheep basis while 44 per cent on per kg base. On an average, sheep wool is sold for Rs8 per kg and Rs10 per animal.

Multiple birth rates indicate that 60 per cent of sheep give single birth while remaining of 40 per cent twin births. Same 60 per cent goat give twin births while 29 per cent single, whereas 11 per cent goat give birth to triplets.

Small ruminants are affected by bacterial disease with seven per cent reporting viral disease and six per cent, both bacterial and viral diseases in the study area. About 67 per cent get their animals vaccinated while 33 per cent are unaware of it.

Almost every household uses family labour for milking. Similarly, for manure gathering 38 per cent use family male labour and 14 per cent hire male, whereas 40 per cent use family female and eight per cent children.

Marketing comprises movement of livestock and their products (food and raw material) from the farm to final consumer. In case of products, the marketing continued through processing which changes the nature and form or use of the product. It includes processing, grading and packing.

The livestock markets are locally called ‘Mall Piri’ held weekly in nearby towns where buyers and sellers strike deals. Such markets are held daily in big cities located in consumption areas. These offer good business for brokers and agents of big traders and marginal traders. Producers often hesitate to sell their animals in these markets because of the exploitation by agents, transportation problem, huge expenses involved in the form of marketing charges and feeding and the time consumed during visits.

There are no standards to weigh livestock and their carcasses. The deal is struck through estimation which becomes the basis of price offered by a buyer. The brokers and agents are clever in bargaining while guessing the helplessness of a seller. Almost all livestock producers are simple and illiterate people.

A primary market is a patch of ground near a village where livestock from same or surrounding villages is brought for sale. These are also designated as local or producer market.

Secondary markets are located in towns to which livestock traded at village markets is brought for sale. These markets are also called transit markets. Local town committees control these markets.

Tertiary markets are located in large cities where animals are usually brought from secondary or primary markets. These are also designated as regional markets. Import and export of livestock occurs internationally from one country to the other from the national markets. The purchaser directly contacts the seller and negotiates the price without the help of intermediary, while at other times a broker serves as a catalyst for settlement of prices.

In Sindh, sheep and goat wealth is in the hands of poor people. Goat farming is carried out as a way of life instead at commercial scale. The goat farming units are not operated efficiently due to poor knowledge of modern practices. The system needs improvement. 

By Dr Ali Mohammad Khushk & Mohammad Ibrahim Lashari

The DAWN

FAQ on Oxen

What is an ox?

Oxen are steers of any breed of cattle, that are at least four years old, and taught to work. Steers, in this catagory, that are younger than four years old, are called "Working Steers".

What is a steer?

A steer is a castrated bull.

How are oxen different than cattle?

There is no difference. Oxen are just cattle that have been taught to work.

Why are oxen so big?

Usually steers are butchered before they reach their full size. Because oxen are kept alive, they have the chance to grow bigger. A full grown ox is usually bigger than the bull of the same breed.

Why do oxen have such big horns?

When people choose an animal for an ox, they choose one with horns. The horns keep the yoke on their heads when they back up. Oxen's horns grow as their bodies grow, and so they have big horns, although not all breeds have the same size of horns.

Can a heifer or cow be used for an oxen?

Yes. Many pioneers used their milk cows for pulling their equipment, and so they were the pioneer's source of power, milk, calves, and if times got bad, meat.

Can an animal from any breed of cattle learn to be an ox?

Yes. But some take more time than others because of temperment, and past experiences.

Can you yoke a trained ox with an untrained ox, or a large ox with a small ox?

Of course it will be more difficult, but it is possible to yoke a trained and an untrained ox together, with the hopeful result that the untrained ox will learn from the trained animal. But, because it is too hard to fit equipment, and the animals are too different in strength, it does not work very well to yoke a large and a small animal together.

Can two yoked oxen pull more than double the weight of that which two single oxen could pull combined?

Yes, two oxen yoked together can pull more than double the combined weight two single oxen could pull, if the conditions, training, and capability of the teamster are optimum.

How do I decide which animals to pick?

Different people have different ideas as to which breed, and which characteristics, make a good ox. For more information on choosing your animals

Is it hard to train oxen?

No. But it does take commitment to work regularly, as well as, patience and consistency in what you ask, and proving yourself a good leader by making sure your animals needs are met. For more information on how to train your calves.

How do I get started?

Start with a very young calf,and with just his halter on, use a small goad to lightly tap him on the head to teach him to Whoa or stop, and on rump to teach him to Giddup or move forward.

How do I hook my animals up to equipment?

You can use a neck yoke, which is a simple wood beam, carved to fit the oxen's necks, and has a ring in the center to attach equipment to. Or you can use a head yoke with is a beam carved to fit snuggly against the oxens' horns and held there with leather straps. Or you can use a collar and harness, which is a little more complicated to get to fit right, and to hook up, but still workable

Originally Post Here

The Role of Cotton in Pakistan

Pakistan is the fifth largest producer of cotton in the world, the third largest exporter of raw cotton, the fourth largest consumer of cotton, and the largest exporter of cotton yarn. 1.3 million farmers (out of a total of 5 million) cultivate cotton over 3 million hectares, covering 15 per cent of the cultivable area in the country. Cotton and cotton products contribute about 10 per cent to GDP and 55 per cent to the foreign exchange earnings of the country. Taken as a whole, between 30 and 40 per cent of the cotton ends up as domestic consumption of final products. The remaining is exported as raw cotton, yarn, cloth, and garments. 

Cotton production supports Pakistan’s largest industrial sector, comprising some 400 textile mills, 7 million spindles, 27,000 looms in the mill sector (including 15,000 shuttleless looms), over 250,000 looms in the non-mill sector, 700 knitwear units, 4,000 garment units (with 200,000 sewing machines), 650 dyeing and finishing units (with finishing capacity of 1,150 million square meters per year), nearly 1,000 ginneries, 300 oil expellers, and 15,000 to 20,000 indigenous, small scale oil expellers (kohlus). It is by any measure Pakistan’s most important economic sector. Not surprisingly, government policy has generally been used to maintain a stable and often relatively low domestic price of cotton, especially since 1986-87 through the imposition of export duties, in order to support domestic industry. 

Cotton and textiles — the challenges ahead 

FINANCIAL downturn and chaos in international markets have severely hit Pakistan, especially the textile industry which is the biggest provider of jobs and foreign exchange earner.

Addressing the short-term causes of the industry’s problems, many specialists have hardly focused on the challenges the sector is to face in the next decade. However, most economists agree that the key to quickest economic recovery is through agriculture and industries based on its produce.

Cotton is still the most important natural fibre. In the year 2007, the global yield was 25 million tons from 35 million hectares cultivated in more than 50 countries. Its importance globally and locally cannot be denied. Recognising its global significance, Pakistani planners need to focus on this crop especially because of introduction of genetically modified cotton seeds. The growth of cotton is divided into two segments i.e. organic and genetically modified.

Cotton crop provides livelihood to millions of people but its production is becoming expensive because of high water consumption, use of expensive pesticides, insecticides and fertiliser, most of them imported in our case. These inputs are injurious to health and a source polluting the underground water.

Textile products under organic labeling fetch high prices as compared to genetic cotton products. To obtain this label, different markets are governed by different regulation; for example, EU has issued a regulation 2092/9/ and other big markets like US and Japan have defined their own criteria. The basis of most of the criteria is renunciation of genetically modified seeds, synthetic insecticides, pesticides and obligatory manual picking.

Between 2001-2005, the global sale of organic cotton products increased by 35 per cent annually, from $338 million to $583 million. The overall global increase in organic cotton production was around 400 per cent, a dramatic increase in four years. During the harvest period 2004-2005, organic cotton was produced in 22 countries, primarily in Turkey 40 per cent, India 25 per cent, US 7.7 per cent and China 7.3 per cent.

On the other side, in 2007, approximately 20 different varieties of genetically modified varieties were cultivated on 43 per cent or 15 million hectares of global cotton cultivation area. For example, 66 per cent of Indian cotton, 68 per cent of Chinese and 90 per cent of US and Argentina’s cotton is genetically modified. The primary objectives of this modification are: 

Resistance against pests; tolerance against herbicides; adoption to cold, heat, dryness and salt; improved fibre qualities i.e. fibre length and strength.

The two varieties have their own merits and demerits. The genetically modified cotton gives better yield, properties and protects the growth from various pest attacks. Organic cotton fetches higher price because of increasing demand and restricted supply. Thus adulteration of both varieties cannot be ruled out.

So far, organic label only requires documentation and no analysis but scientific work is under way to detect adulteration. With scientific tests adulteration can be stopped or reduced to a large extent. The growers and industry must choose which variety to patronise.

In case of leaving the choice open, the adulteration of seeds will occur. Hence the future labeling of our products will become impossible. This will result in fetching low prices. The best course will be to demarcate the areas and ginneries for each variety and restrict cross boundaries movement of cotton by law with strict enforcement.

The textile industry must select the areas and work together with farmers; it is claiming ownership of the material from field onward. It seems difficult but this is the only way to control unadulterated cotton. The new testing methods of fibres, yarns and fabrics are under way and the present standards will become obsolete during coming years. Therefore, the growers and industry must be aware of the coming pitfalls.

In the past sufficient attention had been drawn to ‘environment’ and the focus would be more and more towards it. The primary concern relates to water and energy. The future textile industry, like many others, would have to find solutions to be a qualified supplier in many export markets. The traditional textile finishing section is considered to be one of the worst polluted, because the dyeing and finishing process repeatedly goes through wet and dry operations.

The consumption of energy in form of water and electricity is relatively high, especially in processes like washing, de-sizing, bleaching, rinsing, dyeing, printing, coating and finishing. Processing is time consuming. The major portion of water in textile industry is used for wet processing of textile (70 per cent). Approximately 25 per cent of energy in the total textile production like fibre production, spinning, twisting, weaving, knitting, clothing manufacturing etc. is used in dyeing. About 34 per cent of energy is consumed in spinning, 23 per cent in weaving, 38 per cent in chemical wet processing and five per cent in miscellaneous processes. Power dominates consumption pattern in spinning and weaving, while thermal energy is the major factor for chemical wet processing.

Wet processing in the future should be cost effective, environment-friendly and gentle to the textile material. Almost half of the world’s requirements for textile fibres are met by cotton. Natural fibres such as cotton are often preferred and also thought better for the environment. But a large quantity of articles show that cotton is the most polluting product. This is not only due to the use of pesticides, approx. 150 million kg/year, but also to large consumption of water. To produce one kilo of cotton up to 20,000 1itres of water is needed, apart from chemicals and energy. The entire wet process on cotton consumes 150/1kg and when printed 180/1kg. On polyester, 68/1kg will be consumed and when printed 99/1kg. The high water consumption on cotton is caused principally through the pre-treatment.

There is an increasing demand for sustainable textile solutions. Regulatory standards are becoming increasingly strict. Public awareness is increasing and consumers are becoming more ecologically conscious. Water is becoming a scarce resource in relation to demand, and supply and effluent costs have risen. The fabrics of the future will be entirely re-conceptualised. There will be materials with built in digital devices, capable of repairing themselves when damaged, smart textiles with nano-materials etc.

However traditional or innovative or added value in terms of functionality will not always reduce the consumption of energy and/or water. The processes have to be analysed where water can be deposited in the form of a spray with micro, nano or pico drops of liquid and so be able to control the deposit of liquid needed on textile to obtain the desired colour and functionality.

Normally, the textile industry is considered a traditional sector. However, the market is now growing rapidly with innovative textiles and many developments of new products and applications are on the market. The trend is high-tech, high performance fabrics with added value in terms of functionality.

Technical textiles account for more than 25 per cent of all fibres consumed and almost 50 per cent of the total textile activity in certain industrialised countries. Technical textiles are used individually or as a part/component of other products. Based on the end-use applications, these textiles are classified into 12 segments such as: Agrotech - agriculture, horticulture and forestry; buildtech - building and construction; clothech - technical components of clothing, shoes; geotech - geo-textiles, civil engineering; hometech - household textiles and floor coverings; iIndutech - filtration, cleaning, other industrial usages; meditech - hygiene and medical; mobitech - automobiles, aerospace; oekotech - environmental protection; packtech – packaging; protech - personal and property protection; sport-tech - sports and leisure.

In the end, it is needless to stress upon the existing and coming opportunities. All it needs is a clear policy direction from the planners and its implementation.

The writer is director of the Textile Research and Innovation Centre.

Mycoplasma disease affects poultry sector

Mycoplasma, an atypical bacterium, is causing respiratory problem and huge economic losses to the poultry industry across the world and especially in Pakistan.

This was stated by Prof Dr Mazhar I. Khan from University of Connecticut USA while delivering a lecture on workshop titled Avian Mycoplasmosis which was organized by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Diagnostic Laboratory (UDL) and Department of Microbiology at Syndicate room on Friday. 

The workshop was held under the aegis of US-Pak Cooperation Programme project Characterization of Mycoplasma gallisepticum isolates from Pakistan and their use in biologics production funded by National Science Academies, Washington, DC, USA. 

Diagnosticians and researchers across the country participated in the workshop. Hands on training opportunity were ensured during workshop. The PI from Pakistani Side Prof Dr Masood Rabbani, Director UDL presented the workable model of UDL as setup for improving disease diagnostic setup in the country. Amongst others was Dr. Arfan Ahmad who reviewed the status of Mycoplasmas problem and whatever research groups working on this problem.

It is pertinent to mention here that the strategies recommended by Prof Dr Mazhar Khan would go a long way in controlling this problem.

Salad garden is for goats

By ZAC B. SARIAN

Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

This is a view of the salad garden for goats at the Alaminos Goat Farm in Alaminos, Laguna

MANILA, Philippines – Investing heavily in the Alaminos Salad Garden is one of the best business decisions that Alaminos Goat Farm (AGF) has made in their goat business in 2010, according to Rene Almeda who and his two sons run the modern goat farm in Laguna. 

He said that the idea began in 2008 when friends from the academe would say that although AGF has a good system in place, their operations were too high end – meaning, it is not within the reach of the ordinary goat raisers. At the same time, the high production cost can be attributed largely to the cost of feed concentrate.

The salad garden consists of 30 long plots planted to various forage crops from which fresh leaves are harvested every day for feeding the goats, especially the dairy animals.

The development of the Alaminos Salad Garden became the solution to address these concerns on costs and feasibility. The salad garden would hit two birds in one stone. It would address productivity and help AGF in its corporate social responsibility program by doing a project that the farmers can replicate.

In the beginning, developing the salad garden in Alaminos was done without urgency. At that the time, the main priority was goat raising while working on the fields was done in their free time.

In 2009, Almeda said they recorded an impressive performance in their dairy operation. “From 24,000 liters produced in 2008 we doubled production to 48,000 liters in 2009. It also established that the 305-day lactation period is doable under the tropical condition of the Philippines. The dairy goats averaged over 2 liters of milk per day,” he said.

In reviewing the 2009 performance they saw why they were very successful in their dairy milking operation with the Saanen breed and just average with their Boer breeder operation.

This is what they saw:

1. The dairy goats were prioritized in feeding the highly digestible and young forage grass and legumes.

2. The Boer breeders were given the excess matured forage available.

3. The emergence of indigofera as a sought-after legume for the milking goats.

4. The huge volumes of indigofera being harvested compared with the other legumes planted.

5. Improvement of the milk performance of dairy goats whenever fresh indigofera was included in the feeds.

These observations can be confirmed through a research work done by Ngo van Man, Nguyen van Hao & Vuon minh Tri of the Animal Nutrition Department, University of Agriculture and Forestry in Ho Chi Min City Vietnam. According to their study, indigofera’s plant growth rate as well as its biomass yields are much higher compared to most of the plants included in the research. In selecting the tree legumes to be studied, they chose drought resistant species that will perform on poor soils. The soil was fertilized with goat manure and organic fertilizer during the study.

The increasing milk yields of the AGF dairy goats after adding indigofera to their daily feeding regimen can also be attributed to the indigofera’s 24.8% protein level, the 84.8 % digestibility plus its 2.08% calcium content.

AGF’s confidence with the Alaminos Salad Garden bannered by the tree legume indigofera is at an all time high. The Almedas started pursuing this project seriously in early 2010 by purchasing a Bowa hand tractor. A full time worker was assigned for the planting of indigofera, mulberry and centrosema. During the dry spell at the time of El Nino, they installed drip irrigation and sprinklers in their pasture at great expense. The Alaminos Salad Garden has started to provide part of the forage requirement of their Boer breeders and the full requirement of their dairy goats in 2010.

“Palatabilty is one issue the experts are hitting us about indigofera. Our experience indicates that if you cut it every 30 days, you improve digestibility and palatability. To address this issue you must start teaching your goats to eat indigofera when they are still young,” stresses Almeda.

The Saanen milking goats in Alaminos love indigofera and it is one of AGF’s secret in successfully milking them for 305 days under the tropical condition of the Philippines. It was their farm manager Felino Serdan who stumbled upon the indigofera tree legume.

He observed that the goats love and relish eating it. In their daily milk recording, they noticed an increase in milk yields. He cuts the indigofera every 30 days to augment his feeding. This is when they discovered that it is fast growing and produces a lot of edible leaves and stem.

“We ended 2010 with a very bright outlook for 2011 because of our Alaminos Salad Garden. It will be fully operational in 2011 to provide the full forage requirement of highly digestible and protein rich forage legumes and grass for all the goats in our farm,” says Rene.

AGF has partnered with the Bureau of Animal Industry’s, Research Division to implement a project funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research to commercialize the technology they have developed through their Alaminos Salad Garden. Pelletized Total Mixed Ration (TMR) using a mixture of indigofera and malunggay plus feed concentrate will be fed to dairy goats in a controlled environment to show its positive effect in milk production.

Indigofera is one of the easiest tree legumes to plant and establish during the rainy season. Its biomass yield and protein level are one of the highest among the tree legumes the Almedas have planted. When cut every 30 days it is a highly digestible feed for goats. Based on their experience with the Alaminos Salad Garden, this is one doable technology that can help the poor farmers raising goats in the countryside tp improve productivity.

Indigofera can supplement the feeding of forage and crop residue of low nutritive values to goats the farmers raise.

“Watch as we pursue our advocacy in genetics and nutrition in 2011. The Alaminos Salad Garden would be in the limelight as we commercialize the technology to improve productivity and help modernize the goat raising industry in the Philippines. Hand in hand with genetic infusion in the countryside through Artificial Insemination, there is no way but up for goat raising in the Philippines. If only government officials were listening,” Rene Almeda concludes.

Viva la Spanish Goat

Help preserve a piece of history by raising Spanish goats—a hardy meat goat of older origins.

By Sue Weaver

When Christopher Columbus’ fleet of 17 ships sailed from Cadiz on Sept. 25, 1493, it carried 1,200 settlers and everything needed to colonize the New World Columbus had discovered on his first voyage, including dogs, cats, chickens, horses, donkeys, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.

When the fleet reached Hispañola (the island that now comprises Haiti and the Dominican Republic), the goats that Columbus’ crew unloaded became the first to set foot on the New World’s soil—but they certainly weren’t the last.

Goats played a primary role in Spanish exploration and colonization. Spanish sailors salted islands along nautical routes with pigs and goats, knowing they’d survive and multiply, the better to provide fresh meat on subsequent trips; goats accompanied land route explorers as a walking meat supply, escaping, at times, to establish feral populations. And Spanish colonists loved the hardy goat. While other species such as cattle and sheep required grass to survive, the tough, adaptable goats grazed brush, scrub and brambles—and they thrived.In 1539, Don Francisco Vàzquez de Coronado marched north out of Mexico with 83 wooden-wheeled wagons, 336 soldiers and settlers, five Franciscan padres, 552 horses, 600 mules, and 5,000 sheep and goats to settle Nuevo México. 

Fifty-six years later, Don Juan de Oñate rode north with more soldiers, settlers and livestock, including 2,517 churra sheep and 846 goats. Then in 1691, Don Domingo Teran de los Rios led an exploratory expedition to East Texas, bringing with his party some 1,700 sheep and goats; he was followed in the spring of 1721 by a colonizing party led by the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo, who recruited 500 settlers and collected 2,800 horses, 4,800 head of cattle, and 6,400 sheep and goats to settle East Texas. During the mid-1700s, the Franciscan Order of the Catholic Church established missions in Texas, as well as a series of 21 missions stretching north and south along the coastline of California. Each mission maintained a herd of goats.

In 1832, the California missions collectively owned 1,711 goats, but it was in the harsh, arid Southwest that Spanish goats truly thrived. By 1767, Father Gaspar José de Solis reported 17,000 head of sheep and goats at the San Antonio missions alone.

Meanwhile, Spain dispatched explorers and colonists to Spanish Florida, and with those parties went stalwart Spanish goats.

Spanish Florida included parts of modern-day Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, an area and climate alien to goats from arid Spain, but they adapted—quickly—to the hot, steamy American Southeast.

Until the Mayflower landed at Cape Cod in November of 1662, the only goats in all of North America were Spanish goats.

Fun Facts on Goats

EDELWEISS Acres

Did you know.....

• The proper name for a group of goats is a trip.
• Baby goats are kids.
• males are called bucks.
• females are called does.
• A domestic male is sometimes called a billy; a female, a nanny.
• Goats are great swimmers.
• If bottled raised, goats will become bonded to their caregivers.
• Goats were domesticated around 7000 B.C.
• Domestic goats are found worldwide.
• Pygmy goats are a goat species, not a breed.
• There are six recognized dairy goat breeds in the United States: Alpine, La Mancha, Oberhasli, Nubian, Saanen, Toggenburg.
• Each breed of dairy goat gives a different tasting milk. Oberhasli goats give milk that tastes closest to cow's milk.
• Anything you make with cow's milk, you can make with goat's milk.
• Goat's discovered coffee beans.
• Goat milk has a higher butterfat content than cow's milk.
• Hearty seafarers, goats were kept by sailors for milk.
• Ancient Greeks used goat skins to make vellum and parchment.
• Goats are depicted in Paleolithic art.
• True wild goats are found throughout southern Asia.
• The Ibex (another wild goat species) populates Europe, Asia and Africa.
• Matriarchal herds of goats consist of 5 to 20 individuals.
• Goats are browsers, not grazers.
• Goats are extremely picky about what they eat.
• Goats DO NOT eat tin cans.
• Goats have only bottom front and side teeth, the top jaw does have a large back molar for crushing things.
• Goats have rectangular eyes - this allows them to see very well in the dark.
• Goats contribute to desertification in Africa.
• The Rocky Mountain "goat" is not a true goat; it is closer to a sheep.
• Wild goats don't sleep.
• Goats use straw to scratch their backs.
• Cashmere comes from the undercoat of the Asian Kashmiri goat, with the average annual yield per animal being less than one pound.
• Mohair comes from the Turkish Angora goat.
• Most mohair now comes from Angora fleece raised in the U.S., with the average annual yield per animal being four pounds.
• Goats catch colds and can succumb to pneumonia.
• The fat molecules in goat milk are five times smaller than the fat molecules in cow milk. Goat milk is broken down in the stomach in twenty minutes; it takes an hour for the stomach to break down cow's milk.
• Goats are great as stock animals. Goats are easier on the trail than other pack/stock animals. Properly conditioned, a goat can carry up to 25%-30% of its body weight.