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News States Tamil Nadu

Published: April 22, 2012 01:22 IST | Updated: April 22, 2012 01:22 IST

Paucity of green fodder hits plans to improve milk production

V. Venkatasubramanian Dry feed alone not enough, say beneficiaries of milch animal scheme

The non-availability of quality green fodder for feeding cows, distributed under the milch a scheme, is viewed as a stumbling block by the beneficiaries who have plans to improve in terms of quantity and quality. Hitherto, according to official sources, 900 milch animals procured from Andhra Prade beneficiaries in 18 village panchayats in Kancheepuram district. The beneficiaries manage to milk around 8 to 10 litres per day from their animals whi cattle feed mixture available in the open market. A visit to the home of Rameesa, one of the beneficiaries and consolation prize winner animals at Vallakottai, revealed that feeding the milch animals with dry feed alone h quality or increase the quantity of the milk. On an average, we spend around Rs.1,50 procurement of cattle feed. Further, we recently procured a mini-lorry load of dry pa Kancheepuram at a cost of Rs.3,000 even though the actual cost of the straw is only R was spent on transportation and towards loading and offloading of straw, she claimed Ms. Rameesa expressed the hope that she could improve the quantity of milk extracted give it green fodder. We have come to know that green fodder is available at Paddapa so that our cattle can yield more than 10 litres per day.

Ms. Prabhavathi of Vallakottai, the third prize winner, said that if more green fodder was a definitely result in a higher yield of milk every day. At present, it gives us 4 to 5 litres per session. Feeding it with green fodder will definitely as well as the quality of milk.

At the same time, she said a more stringent procedure should be adopted by the villag while procuring milk from the farmers in the area, including 55 beneficiaries of the schem be tested separately for quality. Only then can the problem of adulteration be avoided and milk to the society can get the correct price for their produce.

In a bid to ensure the success of the scheme, almost all vacancies in the district Animal Hu being filled to improve field activities, according to officials. It is also proposed to encour take up rearing of milch animals as a full time activity by extending them loan for procure
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4/24/2012 9:41 AM

The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Paucity of green fodder hits plans to im...

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3340139.ece?css...

animal based on their (beneficiaries) involvement in the scheme. Keywords: milk production, green fodder

Printable version | Apr 24, 2012 9:40:46 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/n

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4/24/2012 9:41 AM