Musadiq Idris on Cattle Welfare in Pakistan

Musadiq Idris is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, in Pakistan.

In early 2025 Musadiq Idris talked to Clive Phillips for the Conversations with Clive series. In this series, leading farm animal welfare scientists and academic experts share with Clive Phillips their thoughts and experience of farm animal welfare issues.

Key topics discussed in this 22-minute conversation from early 2025:

• 00:00-06:00 Introduces the Cholistan region of Pakistan: Traditional livestock systems in the Cholistan Desert, relying heavily on natural grazing and rainwater sources. Importance of rain-fed ponds (“tobas”) for watering livestock and sustaining vegetation. Challenges of extreme heat with heat stress as a key welfare concern due to limited access to water and shade.
• 06:00-13:00 Cattle raising and transport in the region: Seasonal migration of herders during droughts to urban areas such as Bahawalpur in search of better conditions. Cultural and economic significance of Eid-ul-Adha, during which animals are sold primarily for meat. Complexities and welfare concerns related to livestock transport, with variability in vehicle types and handling. Broader effects of climate change such as longer heatwaves.
• 13:00-18:00 Intensive cattle farming in the Punjab: Provision of shelter, water, cooling systems in intensive farms. Use of local breeds and international dairy cattle breeds.
• 18:00-20:00 Attitudes to animal welfare in Pakistan: Consumers' awareness of animal welfare and preference for Halal meat. Various kinds of assistance and guidance given by livestock department to farmers for animal welfare, from breeding, water, good grazing schedules, constructing shade structures, to emergency and mobile veterinary services.
• 20:00-22:00 Thanking Dr Musadiq Idris for his work on heat stress in cattle.