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Time of India

PDKV VC says need to conserve, promote indigenous cattle breeds

Nagpur: Vice-chancellor of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University (PDKV), Akola, Sharad Gadakh, emphasised the need for conserving and promoting indigenous cattle breeds to ensure sustainable development in Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a 'Special Intellectual Discussion' hosted by PDKV's animal husbandry and dairy science department, Gadakh highlighted dairy business as a vital partner for sustainable agriculture and farmer prosperity. The event marked the state's first "Pure Indigenous Cattle Breed Conservation and Promotion Day," celebrated annually on July 22,. Gadakh stressed that commercial cattle rearing can significantly boost farmers' income by converting low-cost material like weeds, crop residues, and post-threshing byproducts into valuable milk, manure, and urine, while also producing new livestock annually. Noting India's position among the top five countries for cattle population and its status as the world's largest milk producer, he highlighted a key challenge: India's per-animal milk productivity is less than half the global average. With proper nutrition, breeding, and management, Gadakh said, livestock can yield at least 10 litres of milk daily, offering substantial economic benefits. Sadhana Ghuge, deputy commissioner of animal husbandry, addressed the declining population of indigenous cows, advocating for modern technology to enhance their productivity and reproductive capacity. Sheshrao Chavan, head of PDKV's animal husbandry and dairy science department, said, "We have implemented a pedigree cattle breed project, which includes the conservation of all five indigenous cattle breeds of the state — Gaolao from Vidarbha, Lal Kandhari and Deoni from Marathwada, Khillar from western Maharashtra, and Dangi from Konkan — along with high milk-yielding breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, Tharparkar, and Kankrej for educational purposes and dissemination among farmers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " He also highlighted initiatives in fodder crop cultivation, processing low-quality fodder into cost-effective feed, silage production, and producing manure, vermicompost, biogas, and electricity from dung. The department trains students and farmers in commercial dairy production and promotes fodder crops through a nursery.