The Punjab department of animal husbandry has started registration of high-breed cattle under its 'herd registration programme', which aims at identifying elite milk producing cattle and registering them online. The move will create a reliable database for people, who rear and purchase dairy animals.
The department of animal husbandry has directed all its subsidiary departments to identify high-breed cattle under five categories- Sahiwal, Exotic Holstein Friesian (HF), Exotic/CB Jersey, Murrah and Nili-Ravi.
According to officials in the department of animal husbandry, HF breeds cows producing around 5,000 to 6,000 litre, Jersey 3,000 to 4,000 litre, Murrah 3,000 to 3,500 litre, Nili Ravi 2,000 to 3,000 litre and Sahiwal 2,000 to 2,500 litre milk during 292 days of the lactation period will be put under the elite production category.
Dr Harjinderjit Singh Sandha, director, animal husbandry, said, "We have already identified about 10,000 high-breed cows and buffalos, which produce minimum 11 kg to 25 kg milk per day, as fixed by the department."
Sandha added, "The department has taken up the initiative to promote pure-breed cattle. We will also collect the semen and genes of the bulls to use it for improving milk production and animal's heredity for helping genetic upgrading of dairy animals.
"To encourage registration of cattle, the people rearing cattle will be awarded incentive from Rs 500 to 1,500 after they get their cattle registered online," said deputy director, Jatinder Kumar Chopra.
{{/usCountry}}"To encourage registration of cattle, the people rearing cattle will be awarded incentive from Rs 500 to 1,500 after they get their cattle registered online," said deputy director, Jatinder Kumar Chopra.
{{/usCountry}}Procedure for registration
As per the plan, veterinary inspectors will carry out door-to-door survey to identify high-breed cattle. The animals will be primarily selected within first month of calving on third and 14th days.
Recording of milk produced in 292 days will be registered on Punjab animal husbandry website, along with the daily milk production, and the owner's detail, including mobile number.
The department has set a target of registering about 40,000 to 50,000 cattle every year. The data will be uploaded online.
The inspectors will record morning and evening yield on 28 days interval till 292 days. Later, the details of milk production will be sent to higher authorities for online registration of breeds.