(IN) cows in your flats in Kerala

[Guest guest]

The following is a news report appeared in 'The Hindu' on how Kerala is

going to bring in to the constricted spaces in the urban centres the

magnificent " cow culture " of our nation. Cows can be fed on kitchen waste

and reared like caged birds.

 

Recently a leading animal wefarist from Kerala proclaimed in an open forum

that " Cattle and buffaloes of India are factories that convert crop residues

to useful food, fuel, energy and manure " and that " the animal husbandry

practices the Kerala Govt.follows are really models of animal wefarism " .

 

Please try to enlighten the Kerala State Govt.and the State Animal Welfare

Board it is sheer cruely and foolishness to implement such projects and do

what we can towards those numerous dwarf cows to be imported and showcased

in an entirely alienated environment, forced to feed on a novel diet

(kitchen waste),stay in a very constricted space (like a caged bird), become

great " Indian factories that convert crop residues to useful food, fuel,

energy and manure " ,in Kerala urban centres and eventually end up in the

slaughter houses.

 

 

*Dwarf cattle rearing viable in cities *

 

Sangeetha Unnithan

 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cattle rearing in cities is not a very viable

proposition due to confines of space. But, a group of youngsters here have

turned it into a successful venture by rearing dwarf breeds of cows, a bull

of Kasaragod Dwarf, Malnad Gidda and its cross breed bought from Kasaragod

and Kannur districts.

 

Anuraj B of Peroorkada, who along with his friends bought to the city the

heads of cattle, is surprised at their success in rearing the cattle in the

urban milieu. The youngsters who bought the cows out of curiosity are now

planning to form a trust to spread awareness and encourage similar cattle

rearing in the city.

 

“We first saw these cows on a trip to Kasaragod. We were surprised by their

size and made enquiries about the breed. We were told that as the cattle

were of small size, it was possible to rear them in urban centres. That is

how we decided to buy them,'' said Mr. Anuraj.

 

Need little fodder

 

With a height of less than 95 cm and almost equal length, these cows, which

cost nearly Rs.7,000 for a fully grown one, look like an overgrown goat and

can easily fit into the confines of an average urban household. They require

very little fodder compared to breeds of normal size. Apparently, they do

not require any extra cattle fodder and can survive on kitchen waste and

hay, yielding up to 2.5 litres of milk a day.

 

They are also highly immune to diseases and have a lifespan of around 10

calving.

 

“When you consider its milk yield, these breeds may not be ideal for dairy

farming. But the milk yield from one cow of this breed is enough for the

daily requirement of an average urban family. So it is the guarantee of

getting pure unadulterated milk and the pleasure of cattle rearing that

comes with these breeds,'' said veterinarian Jacob Alexander.

 

Medicinal use

 

He said the only perceptible difficulty would be in breeding these cattle as

the scope of artificial insemination for dwarf breeds is less. Another

interesting feature of these breeds is that their urine and dung have high

medicinal value. The cattle urine is used for treating skin diseases in

Ayurvedic medicine while the dung is nutritious manure for plants.

 

“When we visited houses in Kasaragod and Kannur districts to buy these cows,

we found that its urine was collected and sold to Ayurvedic pharmacists at

Rs.160 a litre. Farmers in these regions also buy the dung of these cows,''

Mr. Anuraj said.

 

The Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat has already initiated a scheme to

encourage rearing of dwarf cattle breeds in rural households in the

district. Mr. Anuraj and his friends are trying to prove that the same is

possible in the city as well.