BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE CENTER:

Small Ruminants (Sheep & Goats) plays a key role in the house hold economy of farming community. District Kohat  is mostly hilly, most of the farmers have small land holding. The area is 77% rain fed and 23% irrigated, hence more suited for rearing sheep & goats. The population of sheep & goats in the region is 3,55,824 & 8,38,332 respectively. (Economic senses: 2006).

 There are number of problems in arid zone areas regarding small ruminants production & erformance like lack of interest towards the improved management (housing & feeding), disease diagnosis and treatment. To address these problems, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa established  Small Ruminant Research Institute, Kohat.

OBJECTIVES

        1.    Characterization and conservation of local breeds of small ruminants in the region.

        2.    Research study on productive & reproductive performance of sheep & goats.

        3.    Research & development study of small ruminants on the basis of selective breeding.

        4.    Production of elite Rams and Bucks.

        5.    Research study on improvement of feed & fodder/ forages.

        6.    Provision of disease diagnostic/investigation facilities and collection of data.

        7.    Facilitation of under graduate/post graduate students in internship/research.

        8.    Demonstration of viable packages of technology to farmers.

        9.    Human resource development/capacity building and provision of advisory services.

 

INSTITUTE SETUP

        a.    Administration Section.

        b.    Livestock Farm Section.

        c.    Fodder Section.

        d.    Laboratory Section.

        e.    The project was closed on 30^th June 2013 and converted to current side 01/07/2016.

        f.     The institute is supervised by the PRO, VR&DIC Kohat on additional charge basis.

        g.    5-6 DPL are employed for the watch and ward, management of animals and crops.

STAFF POSITION (POST FILLED/VACANT)

S#	Name officer/official	Designation	BPS	Remarks
1.		PRO/Regional Director	19	Vacant
2.		Senior Research Officer	18	Vacant
3.		Research Officer	17	Vacant
4.		Research Officer	17	Vacant
5.		Assistant	16	Vacant
6.		Computer Operator	16	Vacant
7.		Junior Clerk	11	Vacant
8.		Field Assistant	09	Vacant
9.		Veterinary Assistant	09	Vacant
10.		Laboratory Assistant	06	Vacant
11.		Tractor Driver	06	Vacant
12.		Tube-well Operator	06	Vacant
13.		Sweeper	03	Vacant
14.	Minat Shah	Naib Qasid	03	Filled
15		Shepherd	03	Vacant
16		Shepherd	03	Vacant
17	Shahbas Ur Rahman	Mali	03	Filled
18	Noor Wali Khan	Laboratory Attendant	03	Filled
19	Muhammad Mustafa	Laboratory Attendant	03	Filled
20	Muhammad Asim Ali Shah	Chowkidar	03	Filled
21		Chowkidar	03	Vacant

 

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES

        a.    Irrigation of cultivable land from canal and tube well on regular basis.

        b.    Land leveling, ploughing and sowing of different fodder as well as cash crops.

        c.    Improvement of water channels.

        d.    Regular vaccinations of experimental sheep and goats against bacterial and viral diseases.

        e.    Regular anthelmintic drench according to schedule.

        f.     Prophylactic treatment against protozoan diseases.

        g.    Treatment of sick animals.

        h.    Taking care of newly born kids and lambs through feeders’ feeding, protection from chill.

        i.      Sharing of wool and clipping of hairs in the season.

        j.      Activation of diagnostic laboratory at AZSRRI Kohat.

    k.    Improvement of lawns.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER CAPITAL COST

        a.    Administration Block

        b.    Laboratory Block

        c.    Animal Sheds

        d.    Hostel & Residential suits

        e.    Stores

        f.     Tube Well and water reservoir.

        g.    Generator Room

        h.    Car Park

        i.      Part of boundary wall with gates and roads.

        j.      Renovation of hostel and other petty repairs in old buildings.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES UNDER ANNUAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM

        a.    Research & development activities on livestock production aspects.

        b.    Research & development activities on disease aspects.

        c.    Research & development activities on fodder aspects.

        d.    Research & development activities on miscellaneous.

        e.    Collection of data on various aspects of small ruminants.

        f.     Trainings/ Workshops, Field days, Demonstration/ Exhibition/ Advisory services.

 

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

    a.    Birth weight of lambs/kids have been enhanced

As the breeding program is a lengthy procedure and required couple of years to achieve maximum output of the desirable character of the new gene pool. However, in the period under concern the birth weight was increased in both species, goat (surgulay) and sheep (ghaljo) because of better management practices, balance nutrition and selective breeding.

    b.    Adult Body Weight:

In adult small ruminants the overall weight gain has been improved considerably as normally the sheep and goat has maximum weight from 40-50kg where as we have achieved the weight gain in adult small ruminants from 70-80kg which is a remarkable performance. Furthermore, we can increase the weight gain up to a high extent but time and financial resources will be required for that.     

    c.    High mortality has been observed in sheep/goats in hot season and the diseases were diagnosed as tick born diseases. Guideline were developed for its control

 The onset of diseases in small ruminants prevalent in the surrounding of the station were checked in the station animals because of the improved hygienic measures. Regular acricidal spray, antiprotozoan prophylaxes and regular vaccination for the experimental sheep and goats of the station.

    d.    Phenotypic &  morphometric characters

    e.    Improvement in health status of adult animals were observed due to better anagement, feeding & disease control.

    f.     Animal’s fertility became improved.

    g.    Land fertility was observed to be improved & improved varieties of fodder were introduced

      Improved varieties of different fodder crops including Lucern, sada bahar, oats, sorghum, barely, Barseem, wheat and maize were grown at the station and maximum fodder production was achieved round the year. In order to achieve maximum germination of small cereal fodders (Lucern, Barseem and Mustered) proper ploughing of land, irrigation of land and then spreading of seeds on the top of soil to prevent them from burring deep in the soil ultimately resulting in improved germination. (Care may been taken to protect the seeds from ants, wild birds etc.)

 

ONGOING PROJECTS UNDER ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

        a.    Prevalence of Hemoprotozoan Diseases in Kids and Lambs at AZSRRI Kohat & Surroundings.

        b.    Comparative Production of Different Fodder Crops (Corn, Wheat, Sorghum, Lucerne, Barley, Oats) per canal at AZSRRI Kohat.

 

PROPHYLACTIC MEAURES/MEDICATION

        a.    Vaccination of animals (PPR, CCPP, ASV, ETV, FMD)

        b.    Treatment of sick animals.

        c.    Deworming of animals (At every 02 months of interval)

 

FODDER PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES

        a.    Ploughing.

        b.    Land Leveling.

        c.    Irrigation.

        d.    Sowing.

        e.    Cutting/Chopping.

        f.     Threshing.

 

FODDER CROPS CULTIVATED FOR FEEDING TO ANIMALS

Total Land: 100 Kanal

Agriculture Land (under utilization): 60 kanal for green fodder and cash crop production.

Rabbi Fodder:

        a.    Barley,      b.    Oats (Multi Cuts)    c.    Mustered    d.    Lucern (Mult Cuts)    e.    Barseem    f.     Wheat     

            Kharif Fodder:

        a.    Maize        b.    Sada Bahar (Mult cuts)        c.    Sorgham

DEVELOPMENT/PREPARATION OF PRODUCT AND REVENUE GENERATED

        a.    Green Fodder: 80,220 kgs

        b.    Wheat Production: 3000 kg                      

        c.    Wheat Straw: 5500 Kg                                 

 

FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

1. The institute may be propagated in different areas of kohat, karak, hango and Kurram districts which will ultimately help in improvement of production (mutton/milk) and reproduction of small ruminants, enabling us to cope with the local demand of mutton as well as demand from Muslim countries (UAE, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia etc.)
2. The model farms will serve the farmers through establishment of Livestock Farmers Associations (LFAs) to improve their management, housing, feeding as well as to educate them regarding the prevailing diseases of small ruminants and vaccination practices against them, ultimately improving their socio economic status.
3. Generating employment opportunities in the region.
4. The station will be developed to the level of “Directorate of Small Ruminant Research & Development KPK, Kohat”.