ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFORMATION

Schemes and Programmes

Central Government Schemes

State Government Schemes

Insurance

Training Programmes

Projects

Financial Assistance

Extension Programmes

Central Government Schemes

With the improvement in the quality of livestock through launching of extensive cross breeding programmes, the susceptibility of these stocks to various diseases including exotic diseases has increased. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality, efforts are being made by the State / Union Territory Governments to provide better health care through polyclinics / veterinary hospitals / dispensaries / first-aid Centres including mobile veterinary dispensaries. A net work of 26,540 Polyclinics / Hospitals / Dispensaries and 25,433 Veterinary aid centers, supported by about 250 disease diagnostic laboratories, are functioning in the States and Union Territories for quick and reliable diagnosis of diseases. Further, for control of major livestock and poultry diseases by way of prophylactic vaccination, the required quantity of vaccines are produced in the country at 26 veterinary vaccine production units. Of these, 19 are in the public sector and 7 are in private sector. Import of vaccines by private agencies is also permitted as and when required.

National Veterinary Biological Products Quality Control Centre

At present, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute has been assisting in the task of monitoring the quality of vaccines and biologicals. But in order to obtain better monitoring of the quality, it is essential to establish a separate Institute. Chaudhary Charan Singh Institute of Veterinary Health is being set up at Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

Strengthening of Central / Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories

In order to provide referral services over and above the existing disease diagnostic laboratories in the States, one Central and five Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories have been set up. The Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis (CADRAD) of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar is functioning as Central Laboratory. The Disease Investigation Laboratory, Pune, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Kolkata, Institute of Animal Health & Biologicals, Bangalore and Animal Health Institute, Jallandhar and Institute of Veterinary Biological, Khanapara, Guwahati are functioning as referral laboratories for Western, Eastern, Southern, Northern and North-Eastern regions respectively.

Livestock health & disease control (LH & DC)

During 10th plan, a centrally sponsored macro-management scheme called “Livestock Health and Disease Control” is being implemented with an outlay of Rs. 525.00 crores. The Scheme has the following components.

1. Assistance to states for control of animal diseases (ASCA)

   Under this component, assistance is provided to State / Union Territory Governments for control of economically important diseases of livestock and poultry by way of immunization, strengthening of existing State Veterinary Biological Production Units, strengthening of existing State Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, holding workshops/seminars and in-service training to Veterinarians and Para-veterinarians. The programme is being implemented on 75:25 sharing basis between the centre and the states; however, 100 % assistance is provided for training and seminar/workshops. The states are at liberty to choose the diseases for immunization as per the prevalence and importance the disease in their state / region. Besides this, the programmes envisage collection of information on the incidence of various livestock and poultry diseases from States and Union Territories and compile the same for the whole country. The 10th plan allocation for this scheme is Rs. 255.00 crores.

2. National project on rinderpest eradication (NPRE)

   The objective of the scheme is to strengthen the veterinary services and to eradicate Rinderpest and Contagious Bovine Pleuro - Pneumonia (CBPP) and to obtain freedom from Rinderpest & CBPP infection following the pathway prescribed by Office International des Epizooties (OIE), Paris. Eradication programme for Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia (CBPP) has been initiated in 8 districts of Assam. The country is provisionally free from CBPP from October 2003. The dossier for seeking the freedom from CBPP Infection has also been submitted to OIE. The 10th plan allocation for this component is Rs. 40.00 crores.

3. Foot & Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP)

   To prevent economic losses due to FMD and to develop herd immunity in cloven-footed animals, Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP) is being implemented in 54 specified districts of the country in the first phase with 100% central funding as cost of vaccine, maintenance of cold chain and other logistic support to undertake vaccination. The State Governments are providing other infrastructure and manpower. Five rounds of vaccinations will be done during the tenth plan and allocation for this component is Rs. 200.00 crores. About 1500 lakh vaccination will be carried during the five rounds of vaccination.

4. Professional Efficiency Development (PED)

   The objective of this scheme is to regulate veterinary practice and to maintain register of veterinary practitioners as per the provisions of Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (IVC Act). The scheme envisages establishing Veterinary Council of India at the Centre and the State Veterinary Councils in those states, which adopted the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984. At present it is implemented in all the States and Union Territories except Jammu and Kashmir. 100% Central Assistance is providing to the VCI and the Union Territories and 50 % to the states. The 10th plan allocation for this component is Rs. 30.00 crores.

5. National project on cattle & buffalo breeding

   A new scheme launched by the Government of India during the 10th 5 year plan to strengthen the breeding inputs and to conserve the well adopted indigenous breeds.

6. Building of infrastructure for AH extension network.

   It is a new scheme launched by Government of India in the 10th plan providing assistance to promote and propagate the latest Animal Husbandry practices and technologies and to create awareness among farmers and breeders. The objective of the Scheme is to create AH Extension network developing linkages among institutions and training of Manpower.

7. Animal quarantine and certification services (AQCS)

   While efforts have been made to ensure better livestock health in the country, simultaneous efforts are equally necessary to prevent entry of any disease from outside into the country through import of livestock and livestock products. With this objective in view, four Animal Quarantine and Certification Service Stations one each at Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai have been established. These Stations are equipped to deal with all imports coming into the country.

   Objectives:

   • To strengthen Animal Quarantine and Certification Services
   • To develop and implement Animal Quarantine and Certification procedures so as to prevent entry of exotic animal diseases in the country.
   • To test or arrange to test samples taken from consignment of livestock and livestock products meant for import and export with facilities for pre-export and post-import quarantining of all types of livestock.
8. Disease diagnostic laboratories (Central/Regional Laboratories)

   In order to provide referral diagnostic services one Central and five Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories have been set up/strengthened by the Central Government. The Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis (CADRAD) of IVRI, Izatnagar is working as the Central Laboratory. The Regional Laboratories are located at Kolkata (Eastern), Pune (Western), Jallandhar (Northern), Bangalore (Southern) and Guwahati (North-eastern). The networking of these laboratories with other laboratories of the State Governments, ICAR and Universities have been initiated for better coordination and efficient disease diagnosis, monitoring and reporting.

   Objectives

   • Provide referral services for diagnosing various animal diseases.
   • Networking of these referral laboratories with the ICAR, University and State laboratories to support their programmes on disease diagnosis.
   • Study the problems of emerging diseases of animals. Undertake surveillance against emerging and exotic infections threatening the country.

Development of minimum standard protocol for semen production (MSP):

In order to produce frozen semen of the uniform quality, a Minimum Standard Protocol (MSP) for semen production has been developed in consultation with experts from BAIF, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), NDRI (Karnal) and Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute (CFSP&TI) and the same has been made effective from 20th May, 2004.

ISO certification for semen stations:

To ensure the quality of frozen semen straws for AI programme, atleast one semen station in each State would obtain ISO certification. The semen stations at Ooty, Bidaj, Pune, Hissar, Gurgoan (Haryana), Jagadhari (Haryana) and Haringhata (West Bengal) have already obtained ISO certification. The semen stations located at Vizag, Nabha (Punjab), Bassi (Rajasthan) and Mattupatty are in the process to get ISO certification.

Testing of bulls used for semen production:

The Department has prepared a schedule for the disease testing of the bulls for all the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Central Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (CDDL) and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RDDLs) have been given the mandate to test all the breeding bulls and bull mothers of the semen stations in the central farms, State/ cooperative/ Embryo Transfer Technology Laboratory and private farms. RDDLs have started testing of the bulls and bull mothers in most of the States and infected bulls and bull mothers have been segregated. The States have been requested to take up ring vaccination against FMD in a radius of 10 km around frozen semen bull stations, farms and ET labs under the scheme ‘Assistance to States for control of Animal Diseases’ (ASCAD).

Central Government Schemes for Meat and Meat Products

Country is endowed with more than 11 per cent of the World livestock population comprising a variety of meat animals such as buffaloes, goat, sheep, pigs, cattle, and poultry. The per capita animal protein availability is about 10 g as against the World average of 25 g. Considering the targeted minimum requirement of 20g per capita per day for animal protein, 4 g will come from meat and remaining 16 g from other livestock products. The estimated demand of meat for the present population would be 7.7 million tones as against the present production of 5.7 million tonnes.

Various un-productive categories of livestock are slaughtered for their effective utilization for production of meat. There is an urgent need for measures to provide safe and wholesome meat, gainful utilization of animal by-products and prevention of bird-hit menace to aircrafts, environmental pollution and cruelty to animals. Keeping these objectives in view, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Assistance to States for improvement/modernization of slaughter houses and establishment of carcass utilization centers” was being implemented with effect from 8th Five Year Plan.

For “Modernization of Slaughterhouses”, financial assistance is provided to State Governments on a 50:50 (Central:State) basis.

For “Establishment of Carcass Utilization Centers”, 100% central assistance is provided for building, plants and machinery and water supply and 50% for electric installation fittings, generator, etc.

During the current year, Rs 50.00 lakh for establishment of carcass utilization centers at Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and Rs 100.00 lakh for modernization of slaughter house at Amritsar (Punjab) were revalidated and grants of Rs.12.63 crore were released till February, 2005 to Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Professional Efficiency Development

The “Professional Efficiency Development” programme is being continued during the 10th Five Year Plan, with a view to regulate veterinary practices and to maintain register of the veterinary practitioners. The programme envisages establishment of Veterinary Council of India at Centre and State Veterinary Councils at state level in those States / Union Territories which have adopted the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984.

Assistance to Cooperatives

The scheme “Assistance to Cooperatives” aims at revitalizing the sick dairy cooperative unions at the district level and cooperative federations at the State level. So far, NDDB has identified tentatively 43 unions for rehabilitation assistance under the scheme. Each rehabilitation plan is to be implemented within a period of 7 years from the date of its approval.

The Department had approved 24 rehabilitation proposals of milk unions in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam, Nagaland, Punjab, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with a total outlay of Rs. 145.62 crores. Three more rehabilitation proposals of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh and Bhatinda and Sangrur Milk Unions in Punjab were approved with an outlay of Rs 915 lakh, Rs 234 lakh and Rs 52 lakh respectively during the year 2004-05. The scheme is being implemented on 50:50 sharing basis between Government of India and concerned State Governments. An amount of Rs. 59.20 crore has been released under the scheme till 30th November, 2004.

Strengthening Infrastructure for Quality & Clean Milk Production

With increase in milk production, quality standard prevalent today in milk production, milk collection and processing needs improvement. The microbiological quality of milk is poor due to lack of knowledge about clean milk production and lack of post milking chilling facilities in the villages. To compete in International market for export of milk and milk products, it has become necessary to produce the Indian dairy products of the international standards.

The Department has introduced a new Centrally Sponsored scheme viz. “Strengthening infrastructure for Quality & Clean Milk Production” during 10th Plan with an outlay of Rs.30.00 Crores. The scheme, approved in October, 2003, has the main objective of improving the quality of milk produced at the village level in the country. Under the scheme, there is a provision for training of farmers on good milking practices. The scheme is being implemented on 100% grants in aid basis to the State Governments / Union Territories, specially for components, viz. training of farmer members, detergents, stainless utensils, strengthening of existing laboratory facilities, etc. The pattern of funding for setting up of milk chilling facilities at village levels in the form of bulk milk coolers is in the ratio of 75:25 between Government of India and respective dairy cooperative society/union.

The Department has approved 12 projects for the States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Nagaland at a total cost of Rs.1502.32 lakh during 2004-05. Out of this, an amount of Rs.748.28 lakh has been released till 31st January, 2005 as central share to these States.

State Government Schemes

Four Cattle Breeding Farms have been established in Kerala for rearing high yielding varieties of cows and buffaloes. Locally bred varieties are procured and cross bred with exotic breeds. There forms are functioning as demonstration cum training centers with a view to providing necessary information and technical know-how to the public on improvement of milk production, Cattle Management, Feeding Practices etc. The farms impart farm training to Livestock Inspectors and Vocation Higher Secondary Certificate holders. Milk Production and Fodder Production are the other fields of activity.

Disease Investigation and Control Programme

Objectives of disease investigation are the following: Investigate the causes of out break of diseases among Livestock and Poultry, Co-ordinate the investigation work and suggest control and eradication measures, Mass Vaccination of cattle and poultry against various contagious diseases, establish the infrastructure for disease surveillance, study Epidemiology and other factors relating to various Livestock and Poultry diseases etc. Various schemes have been implemented for the effective control of various Livestock and Poultry diseases through different institutions such as

1. The activities include mass vaccination of animals against these diseases setting up of checkposts in strategic points on the Livestock transport where animals are brought from outside into area of operation, Establishment of a bufferzone along the northern border of Disease Freezone to protect susceptible animals, establishment of infrastructure for disease surveillance etc. The area of operations consists of the entire area of south Periyar river.

   The scheme has three Disease Free zone: Nedumangad (Thiruvananthapuram), Punalur (Kollam) and Adoor (Pathanamthitta).

2. Rinderpest Eradication Scheme, Palakkad:RP Eradication work is carried out both as Non/Plan and a Centrally Sponsored Plan Schemes. Under Non-Plan scheme there are 17 Regular Checkposts, 6 vigilance units, 2 mobile units and are experimental checkpost.

   The RP Checkposts have been established to check and vaccinate all incoming and outgoing trade animals. As RP Disease is totally eradicated RP Vaccination is stopped by Ist January 1998. Now the state is RP free state.

3. Cattle Sterility Scheme:The main objectives of the schemes are screening of Cross bred cow, heifers, buffalo to assess the infertility problems, investigate the causes leading to infertility and rectify the causes, publish data on investigation made, results achieved and suggest ways to modify the breeding and management practices.
4. Epidemiological Cell, Thiruvananthapuram:The objective of the scheme is to collect, analyze, interpret and report the monthly data on all the cases treated against different types of Livestock and Poultry disease in the state.

Special livestock breeding programme

From 1997 onwards it is being implemented through the local bodies. As per GO (MS) 11/2001/AD Dated 20/1/2000 Government has accorded sanction to implement the scheme in Kerala Grama Panchayats from 2000-2001 onwards including urban area particularly urban Municipalities. The objectives of the scheme is to provide extension support, adequate health and Insurance coverage and good quality feed at subsidered price to the growing Cross Bred Female Calves of below poverty line farmers for a period of 28 months or till its first calving whichever is earlier. The scheme is being implemented in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur.

Intensive buffalo development programme (IBDP)

The Government has finalised a comprehensive programme to encourage buffalo rearing in the State. The Rs.32.5-lakh project will be the first intensive buffalo rearing promotion programme to be undertaken by the State Government. The pilot project in this connection was launched during January 2006 at Kuttanad in Alappuzha district. Aims are to encourage farmers to rear graded buffaloes, better utilisation of the Kuttanad agri-waste and by-products and to make Kuttanand a source of germ plasm. The programme will cover all existing buffaloes in Alappuzha district under a free artificial insemination programme as per a national programme.

Insurance

Kamadhenu Insurance Scheme

Now, cattle population in the state is mostly cross-bred and these animals are highly prone to diseases. Due to diseases, the farmers are incurring losses. In order to compensate the loss, the Department came up with an insurance programme jointly with United India Insurance Company as per GO (MS) No: 123/98/AD Dated 17/6/1998. This insurance coverage at a lesser premium rate; at the rate of 6.6% otherwise it is 15%. This scheme is implemented in all the Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations in the state. The livestock owners also be insured for accident death, provision for reimbursement of Medical expenses due to illness, disease or injury to the farmer and spouse.

Training

With a view to imparting technical knowledge and scientific training in Animal Husbandry Disciplines, four Livestock Management Training Centres were established in the state.

1. Training Programmes for Livestock Sector

Title of Training	Duration	Period
National training Programme on Commercial Goat Farming (Farmers Training)	10 days	February & October
Semen Freezing, A..I. and Goat Reproduction (Graduates/Professionals)	14 days	May
Goat Farm Management-Graduates/Professionals	28 days	March
Goat feeding and Feed Processing-Graduates/Professionals)	21 days	April
Goat Diseases, their treatment and control-(Graduates/Professionals)	21 days	November
Meat and milk evaluation and processing Technology -(Graduates/Professionals)	21 days	January
Intensive and semi-intensive sheep and goat rearing practices	30 days	March-April

Source: www.cirg.res.in

Projects

The following Schemes are implemented by the Department for the development of cattle in Kerala

Intensive Cattle development projects

This project was initiated in the year 1967 – 1968, with a view to implementing the Cross – Breeding Programme envisaged by the Government. In accordance with the proposal, 9 Project Offices, 37 Regional Artificial Insemination (AI) Centres and 1482 ICDP Sub – Centres were established throughout the state. Systematic implementation, evaluation and monitoring, in keeping with the Breeding Policy of the State has enabled us to carry out 13.6 lakh inseminations (2000 – 2001), and we have recorded a calf birth of 3.59 lakhs in the same year.

Calf rearing schemes special livestock breeding programme

This scheme was started in 1976 – 1977 as a 100% centrally sponsored programme. The aim of the scheme was to provide female cross – bred calves below six months of age with good quality feed to ensure health, and insurance coverage, in order to bring the age at puberty down to 14 – 16 months. It would then be possible to assure an age at first calving of 24-26 months. The milk yield of these calves could be increased and an additional six months of lactation achieved per animal.
Upto the year 1992 – 1993, the scheme achieved an enrollment of 69,162 calves. From 1993 to 1997, the scheme was implemented under state sponsorship, and 85,000 calves were enrolled. The District Panchayats took over the scheme from 1997 – 1998 to 1999 – 2000 and 48,716 calves were enrolled.

From the year 2000 – 2001, the scheme has been implemented through the Grama Panchayats. In eight districts of the state definite paraphernalia have been put in place for implementation of the scheme, while in the remaining six districts, the onus has rested with the local Veterinary Surgeon.
The Department of Animal Husbandry possesses four livestock farms, nine poultry farms, two Intensive Poultry Development (IPD) Blocks, four pig farms, four goat farms, one turkey farm and one duck farm.

These farms supply the livestock and poultry needed by the farmers all over the state through various schemes implemented through the Department and the local self – governing bodies.

Financial Assistance

From Banks/NABARD for dairy farming

Loan from banks with refinance facility from NABARD is available for starting dairy farming. For obtaining bank loan, the farmers should apply to the nearest branch of a commercial or co-operative Bank in their area in the prescribed application form, which is available in the branches of financing banks. The Technical Officer attached to or the Manager of the bank can help/give guidance to the farmers in preparing the project report to obtain bank loan.

For dairy schemes with very large outlays, detailed reports will have to be prepared. The items of finance would include capital asset items such as purchase of milch animals, construction of sheds, purchase of equipments etc. The feeding cost during the initial period of one/two months is capitalised and given as term loan. Facilities such as cost of land development, fencing, digging of well, commissioning of diesel engine/pumpset, electricity connections, essential servants' quarters, godown, transport vehicle, milk processing facilities etc. can be considered for loan. Cost of land is not considered for loan. However, if land is purchased for setting up a dairy farm, its cost can be treated as party's margin upto 10% of the total cost of project.

Unit cost of cows approved by NABARD in Kerala

Unit cost of buffaloes approved by NABARD in Kerala

Loan from banks with refinance facility from NABARD is available for starting Goat farming. For obtaining bank loan, the farmers should apply to the nearest branch of a Commercial or Co-operative or Regional Rural Bank in their area in the prescribed application form, which is available in the branches of financing bank. The Technical Officer attached to or the Manager of the bank can also help/give guidance to the farmers in preparing the project report to obtain bank loan.

For goat rearing schemes with very large outlays, detailed reports will have to be prepared. The items of finance would include costs of assets like Development of land, construction of sheds, purchase of equipments, purchase of breeding stock, rearing cost of animals till it generates income etc. The cost of land is not considered for loan. However, if land is purchased for setting up a goat farm its cost can be treated as party's margin as per the norms.

The animals may be insured annually or on long-term master policy, wherever it is applicable. The present rate of insurance premium for non-IRDP schemes is 4% per annum.

Extension in Dairy Development

Assistance to primary dairy co-operatives

Milk shed development scheme

Centrally sponsored scheme for dairy development

Summer feeding programme through institutionalized trading in paddy straw

Assistance to women groups for milk products manufacturing and marketing