Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

! Agriculture and Forestry Research, Special Issue No 362 (Braunschweig, 2012) ISSN 0376-0723
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and filed condition is encouraging. However, the reproduction parameters of both pure and graded
up animals are far below compared to the breeds of temperate region.
Apart from the production and reproduction parameters farmers were also asked about the occurrence
of different diseases, required veterinary attention, expenditure involved for treatment and
prophylaxis, which are summarized below (Table 2).
From the above table it is evident that occurrence of diseases is much less in Sahiwal and Gir compared
to Cross-bred Jersey. Prophylaxis measures also requires less. In Cross-bred Jersey farmers
reported incidence of FMD even after vaccination by polyvalent FMD vaccine. Cost of treatment is
comparatively much lower as farmers give some traditional medicines initially, which costs very
low. Though the production level is fairly high in cross-bred but due to high feeding and management
cost average return per cow per lactation is fairly good in Sahiwal and Gir.
Suggestions to tackle the future challenges of organic animal husbandry
Occurrence of different disease and their treatment in organic way is the main challenge for organic
dairy herds. So, breeds to be choose which are much resistant to common parasitic and other disease
like mastitis. Sahiwal and Gir animals have some specific attributes which suit them with the
organic production system like-
• Easy of calving
• Excellent mothers
• Resistant to ticks
• Drought resistant
• Fairly resistant to external and internal parasites
• Thrive well in low feed and on crop residues
• Lean meat with even fat
To meet the challenge of small holder organic dairy in tropic and sub-tropic the breeds like Sahiwal
and Gir to be encouraged. Though their production performance is lower compared to exotic breeds
like Jersey and Holstein- Friesian but overall performance of these breeds are very good and to be
used in organic dairy.
Research to be directed to evolve new strain of cow using these breeds which will perform better
and will adopt better in organic farm.
Initiatives to be taken both in Govt. Sector as well as by other agencies for conservation of these
superior germplasm for future use.
Reference
Mathur, A.K & Khosla, S.K. (1994). Gir cows in their breeding tract. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences,
64:1207-1218.
National Bureau of Animal Gentic Resource (2005). Monograph on Cattle Genetic Resources of India Sahiwal-
The Champion Dairy Breed. National Bureau of Animal Gentic Resource, G.T.Road By Pass,
Karnal -132001, India, p 4-17
National Bureau of Animal Gentic Resource (2006). Monograph on Cattle Genetic Resources of India Gir- A
Promising Dairy Breed. National Bureau of Animal Gentic Resource, G.T.Road By Pass, Karnal -
132001, India, p 4-17
Raja, K.N. (2004). Genetic and phenotypic trends for production and reproduction performance of Sahiwal
cattle, M.V.Sc. Thesis, National Dairy Research Insitute, Karnal-132001, India.
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