Fertility programme to stop cow slaughter: TN Animal husbandry minister
Chennai: Animal husbandry minister Balakrishna Reddy on Tuesday announced research centres for Pulikulam variety of bull used for jallikattu, besides the famous Kangeyam breed of cattle. He also announced a fertility programme for cows to stop their sale for meat and improve milk production.
The minister said research centre for Pulikulam breed of bulls would be set up at Sivagangai and another research centre for Kangeyam cattle would be established at Erode.
Besides, he said treatment for cows would be given to continue their milk productivity through continuous fertility to increase the income of farmers. He also announced a poultry production scheme at a cost of Rs 6.47 crore to increase broiler chicken production and provide protein-rich food to the people.
He said the infrastructure facilities at Korukkai cattle farm at Nagapattinam would be improved to protect the Uplanchery variety of cattle.
Replying to the discussion on the demand for grants to his ministry in the Assembly, he announced the setting up of 100 small cattle farms to increase cattle production and improve the farmers' economy. The farmers who were following traditional methods of farming would be given training on commercial methods of cattle rearing.
A also announced the setting up of a separate complex at Hosur cattle farm to increase production of variety of country chickens. The infrastructure at the Hosur farm would be improved to increase fodder production.
Hydroponics variety of fodder which is rich in protein and grows in less quantity of water would produced and distributed to farmers at 75 per cent concession price and two lakh saplings would be planted at an area of 600 acres at many places in the state for the special purpose of providing cattle fodder, he said.
The minister said the demand for white pork is rising in the cities and towns and farmers are showing interest in rearing pigs due to high profit with less investment. To increase the production of white pigs, quality piglets would be produced at the Hosur cattle farm and distributed to farmers, the minister said.
