Visiting Cheema Farm 12 kilometers outside of Gujranwala in Kalaske, U.S. Consul General Zachary Harkenrider welcomed the first-ever shipment of U.S. dairy cattle to Pakistan. The 300 Holsteins flew from Miami, Florida in the United States to Sialkot in Punjab and will find homes on several commercial farms in Punjab. U.S. and Pakistani officials worked together closely to establish the regulatory framework that addresses Pakistan’s import requirements and facilitates the safe entry of U.S. cattle.
In recent years, a number of Pakistani innovators have invested in the dairy sector. Consul General Harker commented that “the introduction of large commercial farms over the past decade is adding a new dimension to the dairy sector, introducing new breeds, technology, and methods of production. These cattle are emblematic of that change and I am hopeful that many of these new practices will be adopted by smaller dairy farmers.”
The shipment included 70 cows that were delivered to the Patoki campus of the Lahore-based University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS). UVAS is working to establish a campus demonstration herd that will facilitate the training of animal scientists, veterinarians, and herd managers in intensive dairy production practices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is supporting this effort by providing the nucleus of the herd and technical expertise.
USDA and Pakistan have a long history of collaboration in the agricultural sector. Expanding milk production to better meet the nutritional needs of Pakistani consumers is a reflection of the continued mutual commitment to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
