Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
Longevity is another important issue favouring native breeds, despite their
apparently low milk yield.
With the promise of short-term productivity, many rural farmers prefer
crossbreeds, rather than locally adapted livestock. But the morbidity and mortality
of non-native animals is high because they are poorly adapted to the local climate,
and are vulnerable to local diseases. For example, Holstein Friesian crossbred cows
threatened by Foot and Mouth disease causes wasting and death in up to a million
livestock animals each year. Cows of the native breed carry genetic resistance to
the disease.
A 2012 report by Kerala state Animal Husbandry Department stated that the
State’s new breeding policy limited exotic [that is, non-native] germplasm to
50 percent of cattle and encourages propagating of native breeds by adopting
artificial insemination programs with the semen of native bulls. It also stated that
the milk of the Vechur breed has medicinal qualities recorded by Ayurveda ages
ago. In more recent times, studies at the Kerala Agricultural University have also
shown the percentage of fats and total solids of the Vechur cow to be higher than
those found in crossbred cows. The smaller size of the fat globules in the Vechur’s
milk makes it more suitable for infants and the sick.
Hence, maintaining the genetic diversity of traditional livestock breeds is a more
urgent problem in developing countries than it is in developed nations.
6. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROTECTING AND IMPROVING
NATIVE LIVESTOCK
We need to develop emergency plans for endangered breeds in the case of
epidemic outbreaks, and build up gene banks for native livestock. We need to
encourage more breeders to take part in conservation programmes. Striking a
balance between traditional genetic adaptations and modern productivity traits is
essential for future livestock breeding programmes. An optimal breed is one that is
well adapted to local conditions, able to feed mostly on available (fodder) resources, and
able to produce quality products.
To conserve the genetic resources of native livestock:
Annexures
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