Ans: Livestock:
The term livestock includes sheep, cows, bulls, buffaloes, goats, camels,
horses and donkeys. In a wider sense this term is also applied to hens,
turkeys, chicks, ostriches and fish. Animals are an integral part of our
economy. Animals affect our life in many ways i.e.
i. Livestock sector provides employment to 30 million Pakistanis, directly or
indirectly.
ii. There are many areas in Pakistan, where farmers still use traditional
agricultural techniques, in these areas animals like oxen and camels are
used for ploughing, thrashing and running Persian wheels (rahat).
iii. Oxen, donkeys, horses and camels are used for riding and transportation.
iv. Cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats and camels provide milk, which is also utilized
for making butter, ghee, cheese and other dairy products.
v. Dung of dairy animals is burnt as fuel and used as fertilizer.
vi. Goats, sheep, cows, buffaloes and camels are slaughtered for meat.
Turkeys, ducks, ostriches and hens produce eggs in addition to meat.
vii. Sheep are the major source of wool.
viii. Leather is made by processing animal skins and hides, which is used by
local consumers as well as exported in large quantities. Leather is one of
Pakistan’s major exports.