The entire world faces the effects of
global warming. They are not just limited to human beings but are seen in the
milk yielding cows as well.
Scientists working with Bareilly-based
Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)have long been engaged in researches
upon native and hybrid cows to prove that the native cows adapt easily to every
weather change.
“The climatic change would result in
lesser fodder for the animals, unavailability of pure water, increase in
parasitic diseases due to mosquitoes, flies and lice, decreased fertility and
reduced milk production. In such a scenario, the native breeds of cows like Sahiwal,
Gir and Tharparkar would be far more adaptive to the rising temperature than
the hybrid cows,” Dr Ashok Tiwari, head of the department at IVRI’s biological standardization
unit informed Gaon Connection over
phone.
With the aim of promoting climate
adaptive farming and animal husbandry, the Indian government is running
National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). Under the project,
many national institutes are engaged in scientific research.
Cows kept for six
hours at an increased temperature
“Our institution has been engaged in
the research upon the native breeds of cows for several years now. We have
special psychometric chambers installed to ascertain how far a cow is suited to
the rise in the temperature. These had groups of ten cows each, including
native and hybrid cows, which were kept in the chambers for 6 hours at an
increased temperature. Whatever changes occurred were carefully observed,
recorded and analysed,” he added.
A
committee headed by the senior minister of agriculture, Murli Manohar Joshi,
presented a report in the Parliament a few months back as per which ignoring the
effect of climatic change upon milk production would result in the fall of
about 1.6 metric tonnes in the milk production by 2020, which may plummet
further to a loss of 15 metric tonnes by 2050. In this situation, native cows
would only be effective.
Special genes of
native cows
The IVRi’s scientists took blood samples
of cows during temperature-rise. During this, native cows showed some special
genes which develop in them the ability to withstand higher temperatures. As
per the genetic study conducted by Dr Tiwari, it was established that the hybrid
cows cannot withstand higher temperatures with ease.
In Uttarakhand’s Kalsi Block of
Dehradun District, there has been undertaken the conservation and protection of
the Red Sindhi and Sahiwal cows. This is the country’s first such farm where the conservation effort is being made to protect the nearly extinct breed of Red Sindhi
cows.
The Centre’s farm manager Dr Ajay Pal
Singh Aswal informed, “The way temperatures are rising, some places are
reporting water shortages. The animals are facing an increased risk of diseases.At
times such as these, native cows like Gir, Sahiwal andRed Sindhi, are all good
choices because even in 45-46 degrees temperature, they eat and produce milk.”
He added: “Native cows being well
adapted to the climate rule out any disease’s risk. Unavailability of good
quality fodder due to water shortage also doesn’t affect the animal of these
breeds as much as well as its milk production.”
The
native cows of India, including Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, require very low
upkeep and yield better milk even in adverse conditions. But the government,
during a particular phase, promoted foreign breeds over these most of which
didn’t even fare well here and the native cow breeds also got spoilt due to
cross-breeding. Today, our native breeds are giving out good yields of milk in
foreign countries.
Native cows
producing double the amount of milk in Brazil
Recently back from a trip to Brazil,
Dr Ajay, sharing his experiences, said: “Certain countries took our native cows
about 50 years ago and those countries today have doubled or even tripled their
milk production. I give you Brazil’s example. Their livestock exceeds that of
ours, their cattle population is 210 million out of which 85%cattle belong to Indian
breeds. Their Gir cow yields 20-24 kgs milk. Brazil’s Indian cow’s per cow
yield is double than its Indian yield.”
Vaccines shall be
ready soon
Besides Sahiwal and Tharparkar cows, the
IVRI scientists would study the effect of higher temperature on other native
breeds which would enable them to create a vaccine protecting the animal
against pests menace brought on by the temperature rise.
