Maintenance of Pregnant Desi/Indigenous Cow/Buffalo Ration Scheme for BPL families belonging to Scheduled Caste category
Introduction
About 6.5 Lakh cows and buffaloes become pregnant every year in the state. They remain in lactation of about 6 to 7th month of pregnancy, thereafter a dry period of three months is given to them so that the calf may develop properly and yield optimum milk in the coming lactation. Due to small land holdings the BPL families of the state cannot provide nutritious and balanced diet to the pregnant animals. Thus the health of mother and calf is affected and underweight calf are born and though the cow have capacity to yield optimum milk but due to lack of nutritious and balanced ration it does not yield milk up to its capacity. The department, due to its limited resources cannot assist the farmers in providing nutritious diet to their pregnant animals. Therefore, under this scheme cattle feed to the pregnant cows and buffaloes of BPL families belonging to Scheduled Caste category will be provided on 50% subsidy for the last trimester (three months) of pregnancy.
Objectives
- Increase in milk production thereby providing more economic gains to the farmers.
- To reduce the inter-calving period which will ultimately result in more number of calves and higher milk production.
- To improve the health of pregnant cows & buffaloes so that their full milk production potential can be realized after parturition.
- To ensure the birth of healthy calves free of diseases and malnutrition so that they grow to become higher producing animals.
- As the incentive is being given to Desi/Indigenous cows and buffaloes, the farmers can be motivated to rear such animals.
Eligibility Criteria
Livestock owners belonging to BPL of Scheduled Caste category families rearing Desi/Indigenous/crossbred cows or buffaloes.
Subsidy will be provided to each BPL of Scheduled Caste category families for maximum upto two Desi/Indigenous cows/their crosses or buffaloes.
Physical Target
Families belonging to BPL of Scheduled Caste category rearing Desi/Indigenous cows or buffaloes will be provided balanced ration @ 3kg/day/cow or buffalo for maximum of two animals for three months during the last trimester of pregnancy at 50% subsidy.
Implementing Agency
Department of Animal Husbandry, Himachal Pradesh.
Assumptions
- Balanced ration will be provided @ 3kg/day/cow for three months (last trimester of pregnancy).
- Cost will be shared by the Govt. and beneficiary on 50:50 basis.
- Cost of feed will depend upon the tender/approved rates.
Benefits/Outcome
- After feeding balanced ration during last trimester of pregnancy, milk production increase by 2 ltr/day.
- With assumption that during lactation of 300 days farmer will market this milk at @ 30/ltr, his income will increase by Rs.18000/year (Approx.).