"Despite all our efforts"
it is a naked fact that the state of kerala experiences shortage of milk,particularly during festival seasons.For quite pretty long period our department and other authorities are expressing due concern over the need of production.The department of animal husbandary has formed an expert committe to evaluate and formulate livestock breeding programme and policies.The draft breeding policy prepared by the expert committe was fine tuned at a discussion convened by the Honrible Minister sri.C.Divakaran here on december 03,2007.
The draft breeding policy prepared by the committe aims at achieving rapid hike in milk production in the state through the adoption of scientific programme for cross breeding and for the preservation of the indigenous varieties of cattle.According to the report it will be possible to increase the annual milk production of the state from the present 21 lakh tonnes to 30 lakh tonnes in three years through such programmes for augmenting the generic merit of the cattle population.
The draft policy makes it clear that only Jersey and Holstein fresian will be continued to be used on the exotic donor breed used for production of the bull. Small farmers with good resources and farmers in the commercial dairying activities could he provided with semen of high value breeds like Holstein Freisian bulls under the supervision of the AHD and KLDB.It is pointed out that progeny testing was essential to ensure that the yeild of the offspring is high and the draft policy suggested expansion of the progeny testing facility to wider areas.
The policy calls for the superior quality bull and the cow.The policy reminds introduction of first generation cross-bred bulls produced by using donor exotic breeds and famous indigenous breeds like Sahiwal embryo transfer technology must be strengthened in the production of breeding bulls used for AI in the state.Efforts should be made to reach all failities at the door steps of the farmers.The policy suggests culling and removing 2% of sunandhini the cross bred variety of cow which constitute 50% of the State total population for poor milk production annully.Another 1% of them must be culled for delayed first culving age,annually.Efforts must be launched for achieving zero sterility among the cattle poppulation in the state.The policy also suggests research and development initiates for molecular characterisation of local genetic resources like vechoor cows,coastal cattle of the state and kuttanad buffaloes for germ plasm conservation.
It is learned from the news papers that Govt of Kerala have signed a memmorandum of understanding withCoopex Monte beliarde cattle society of France. Monte beliarde cattle are red and white pied cattle from the Montebeliard region of France used mainly for dairing and particularly for cheese making.Registerd as a pure breed since 1889,comes originally from the mountain area located in eastern France.Therefore they have selected through tames not only a very good dairy breed of healthy hardy cows(650 kg) able to withstand strong elimate and to make the best of available feed.
Monte beliarde breed is desirable for cheese making;beef production is not to be forgotten either.In addition to all these see mastitis resistance,ease of calving,fertility and functional longevity are the merit of this breed..
What happened is the draft policy prepared by the expert committe of where we stom news.The Monte beliarde-French revolution whether it will help us.Is it desirable for our state for augmenting milk production.
Deliberations and discussions should be there in all level.Suggestions should be emerged from all corners.IVA has decided to conduct a debate on this subject with the active participation of experts in this field at the earliestt.I take this opportunity to call up on all of you to come forward with valuable suggestions.