By: Dalip K. Gosain, Ph.D
Head Krishi Vigyan Kendra & Dairy Training Centre National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
Dr. K.M.L. Pathak, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Karnal (India): A three days National Cattle Fair (Dairy Mela) was organized here at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) from 24-26 February. Dr. K.M.L. Pathak, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi in the inaugural programme as a Chief Guest stressed that the dairy farmers should learn the new technologies evolved by the NDRI adopt them at their dairy farms and get benefits through enhanced milk production. He added that although India ranks first in the world in milk production but to meet the growing demand of milk newer technologies need be evolved for further increasing the milk production.
Ch. Ved Pal, Member, Board of Management, NDRI lauded the contributions made by the NDRI in increasing the milk production and said the dairy farmers should undergo different training programmes organized by this institute so that with the adoption of newer technologies they were benefited.
Dr. A.K. Srivastava, Director, NDRI spoke on the issues pertaining to Mastitis and the use of oxytocin in dairy animals. He said that there is shortage of green fodder, straws and concentrates used for feeding the dairy animals and in this context the farmers should use cost effective feeding technologies.
In the fair around 500 cattle and buffaloes participated in 35 different categories of competitions. In the category of cross bred cattle Bhupinder Singh of Fategarh Sahib was conferred first prize for his cow that yielded 53.023 kg of milk in one day, Dalbir Singh of Ludhiana was given second prize for his cattle that could produce 43.438 kg milk whereas Ram Singh of Taraori of this district was awarded third prize for the milk yield of his cow 41.268 kg in the cattle fair.
In the category of buffaloes Rajiv khurana of Rohatak was awarded first prize whose murrah buffalo yielded 22.56 kg whereas buffalo of Gulab Singh of Kaithal was given second prize for milk production of 19.36 Kgs from his buffalo.
Som Parkash of Taraori of this district was conferred first prize for having the best cattle of the show and Narinder Kumar of village Dadvari of Panipat was awarded first prize for keeping the best buffaloe bull.
In the valedictory and prize distribution function Dr. Mangala Rai, Former Secretary DARE & Director General, ICAR, New Delhi said that there was an urgent need to evolve newer technologies at all fronts of agriculture and allied sectors so that the production could be improved further. He stressed that the technologies generated need be adopted by the farming communities.
Sh. Hardeep Kumar, Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary, Govt. of Haryana in his address said that Haryana state has a target of doubling its milk production in 10 years that could be achieved through breed improvement programme of both cattle and buffaloes. He added that keeping in view the shortage of feeding resources the farmers should adopt the silage making technologies for economic feeding to their dairy animals.
Dr. K. S. Dangi, Director General, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Haryana said that the state has 2790 veterinary dispensaries including veterinary hospitals which ensure health coverage and provide facilities for artificial insemination to dairy animals. He added that in the state around 81 percent milk is contributed by buffaloes 18 per cent by cattle and one percent through other dairy animals and spoke about various schemes concerning improving of dairy scenario in the state.
Dr. A.K. Srivastava, Director, said that dairy mela was a grand success in which more than 9.000 farmers, farm women, rural youth, dairy entrepreneurs including visitors from 12 states of the country participated. He added that the fair provided a plate form to all the stake holders and all were benefited. Champion farmers were given away a total of 259 prizes in different categories. Dr. Dr. S.L. Goswami, Joint Director (Research) , Dr.G.R Patil Joint Director (Academic) NDRI and Dr.D.S.Sohi, fair Organizing secretary coordinated in organizing this mega event he added.
