Date:22/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/22/stories/2008022255620800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Government encourages rearing of cows

P. Samuel Jonathan

Guidelines issued to department concerned

GUNTUR: Facing the prospects of a scarcity of milk in the ensuing summer, State Government is encouraging rearing of cows as a viable alternative to that of buffaloes. Under a scheme called ‘Jeeva Kranthi’, the Government has issued guidelines to the Department of Animal Husbandry in various districts to ground the scheme immediately.

Attractive proposition

Though low in fat content, rearing of cows was an attractive proposition as the animals give milk throughout the year in comparison to buffaloes whose milk yield decreases substantially during the summer.

The average percentage of fat in cow’s milk ranges between 3.5 per cent and 5 per cent, while the fat per cent in buffalo milk ranges between 6 per cent and 10 per cent. Cow’s milk was much cheaper with the average price ranging between Rs.9.50 and Rs.11 per liter in comparison with that of the buffaloes’ milk ranging from Rs.16 and Rs.20 per liter depending on the fat content. “We will be actively propagating rearing of cows in the district. The first batch of 40 cows will arrive at Nakerikallu mandal from Tamil Nadu in two to three days,” Animal Husbandry Joint Director T. Damodar Naidu told The Hindu on Monday.

Formidable task

Dairy farming based on cow’s milk has proved to be a success in Chittor, Nellore, and Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. The department is now propagating the idea in the coastal districts.

However, grounding of the scheme will be a formidable task as the farmers are used to rearing of buffaloes.

“Rearing of cows needs much attention and the farmers are wary of spending higher amounts on feed. However, we will motivate farmers to take up the new practice,” the Joint Director said.

Subsidy

Under the scheme, the department will also release stocks of heifers to experienced groups at a fifty per cent subsidy and the remaining amount would be arranged through bank linkage.

While each unit costs Rs.20,800, the government would release fifty per cent subsidy and the remaining Rs.10,400 have to be arranged as a bank linkage loan.