State tops in milk production

With 2% of cattle population in the country, Punjab contributes 8% to total milk output

Chandigarh, April 6
Punjab, which has for long been known as the food bowl of the country, could now be termed as its milk bowl too. The state has not only topped the country in average milk production of buffaloes by beating Haryana, but also in average milk production from Holstein Friesian and even non-descript animals.

The national integrated livestock sample survey for 2010-11 also notes that Punjab, despite having only two per cent of the total cattle population of the country, contributes 8 per cent of its total milk production. It has topped in per capita availability of milk with nearly one-litre milk being available per day for each individual. Similarly, the state has also topped in per capita availability of eggs with 128 eggs available for each person, which is two-and-half times the national average.

Ironically, Haryana lags far behind Punjab as far as average per day milk yield of both buffaloes and non-descript animals are concerned. In case of buffaloes, against an average production of 8.5 litres per day per animal, Haryana has recorded an average production of 6.86 litres per day. Similarly, in case of non-descript (desi) animals, Punjab recorded an average per day production of 6.5 litres against 4.76 litres in Haryana.

In case of Holstein Friesian crossbred animals, Punjab has recorded an average per day per animal production of 11 litres. Meghalaya comes second with an average of 9 litres and Kerala third with an average of 8.9 litres.

Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike says this success story has been achieved due to the state's strategy to increase yield of buffaloes by providing better quality semen to ordinary farmers as well as encouraging modern dairy units having high yield Holstein Friesian cows.

He said the state had increased its own semen bank capacity to 40 lakh semen doses for both buffaloes and cows. He said the state was the first in the country to import semen straws with an annual lactation capacity of 11,000 litres per animal and the straws (3.25 lakh) were being distributed at 50 per cent subsidy to dairy farmers.

Ranike said the national survey for 2010 -11 had revealed that Punjab also had the best animal health services network. He said each veterinarian was covering four villages and each veterinary institute was covering 17 square kilometer area around it.

The Minister said besides these measures more than 1,000 persons had also been trained and given authorisation to conduct artificial insemination services to increase the quality of available livestock.

Ranike said Punjab was also the first in the country to provide area specific mineral mixture to dairy farmers at subsidised rates. He said from April 16 onwards the Animal Husbandry Department would start selling fodder seed at subsidised rates to farmers. As much as 18,300 quintals of fodder seed would be distributed to dairy farmers under this drive.

Surpasses haryana

• Beats Haryana in buffalo milk production and tops in milk production from crossbred animals
• First in per capita availability of milk with nearly one-litre milk being available per day for each individual
• Also tops in per capita availability of eggs with 128 eggs available for each person
• First in the country to provide area specific mineral mixture to dairy farmers at subsidised rates .