Thirty to 40 percent less animal feed than the balanced diet is provided to cattle in the country, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Dr Nawaz said on Sunday. He said that underfeeding affected the growth of cattle while a balanced diet of 11 kilogrammes (kg) feed increased beef by 1 kg, chicken meat by 1 kg and fish meat by 2.5 kg.
The VC told APP that for normal growth of cattle, balanced diet should contain carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, potassium, magnesium, copper and iron and the amount of milk given by cattle might be increased by 1.5 to 3 litres if the cattle were allowed to graze in cattle sheds. Around 200,000 cattle were smuggled to neighbouring countries every month which resulted in shortage of meat and an increase in its price, he added.