Center produced 392 tons of milk in 2018
Cattle Research Center a pilot farm for research, training
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 10: The Cattle Research Center of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources in Sulaibiya is one of the most important research centers in the Gulf. It is located among 47 farms specialized in milk production, all of which are members of the Union of Fresh Milk Producers in Sulaibiya, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The farms produce most of the raw milk and deliver to the dairy manufacturing companies in the country. The Cattle Research Center in Sulaibiya was established in 1970s as a wheel-rearing project (1000-wheel project). In 2003, the name was changed to the Sulaibiya Cattle Research Center, thus changing the target. In 2007, the preparation began to use the center for delivery of drinking water (ministry water), installation of automatic milk producer, and others. On August 8, 2007, the cattle herd of Rabiah Experimental Plant was transferred to the Cattle Research Center in Sulaibiya and the center began to operate as a research and training center in the different fields of cattle, especially for cow milk production.
The center contains 224 cows, bulls, calves and wheels “of the Friesian strain”, according to officials. They are 57 heads of dairy cows and 22 pregnant dry cows, which are prepared for the next season of production, as well as 29 young female cows, 102 calves and 14 bulls. The total milk production during the past year reached 392 tons with an average production of 33 tons per month, and average daily production of milk in the center to about 1,082 liters.
The herd is of improved European origin and some genetic improvement has been carried out with imported high-quality frozen semen, which has become highly adaptable to local environmental conditions from climate (heat and humidity without cooling or ventilation, etc.) resistance to environmental diseases. It was born, bred and reproduced under difficult Kuwaiti conditions for successive generations and over decades.
Al-Qabas toured the Center for Cattle Research in Sulaibiya Farm area and the correspondent monitored the method of milk production and feeding of cows, bulls and calves. He found that the herd of cows in the center is almost the only herd found in the country, which are raised locally through generations and adapting to the Kuwaiti environment and becoming resistant to environmental diseases. The herd is a
national wealth that must be taken care of and should not be lost for any reason, while it should be kept to be passed down to future generations as a source of production and disease-resistance.
For his part, Deputy Director for Livestock Sector at the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources Dr Ali Al-Qattan said the center is a pilot farm for research, guidance and training, as it exists in most countries of the world, where it must be preserved and developed for its leading role, distinct in advancing the development of animal production in the field of cows locally. He pointed out that it has a series of direct and indirect returns, and that the main direct returns are the sale of raw milk daily through a public bidding for the dairy companies, as well as the sale of animals in excess of the need of the center.