Cattle breeding programme of Kerala A support for economic upliftment of the small farmers

1
Cattle breeding programme of Kerala A support
for economic enhancement of the small farmers
CT Chacko
2
Kerala

• Area 38863 km2 (1.18 of India)
• Coastal line 580 km
• Av. Rainfall 3125 mm
• Cultivated land 0.10ha/P
• Population 32.8 million
• Pop.density/km2 843
• Literacy 92
• Women literacy 86.2

3
Livestock sector in Kerala

• One of the fastest growing sectors in rural
  economy
• Livestock sector is extremely livelihood
  intensive
• A major contributor to the GDP (40 of the
  agricultural GDP)
• Livestock sectors contribution to the GDP is
  steady increasing

4
Cattle wealth in the past

• Non descript bullock mothers
• The cows yield less than 350 kg/yr and
• Calving interval almost 2 years

5
Breeding policy

• Small scale grading up programme
• Started with the ISP, Kerala in 1966
• Crossbreeding programme with Swiss Brown
• Exotic blood level - 62.5
• Next three decades of changes
• Exotic inheritance limited to around 50
• Jersey and later HF employed
• Swiss Brown discontinued from 1990
• The Sunandini christened in 1979

6
Breeding programme

• Had a systematic approach for implementation
• Artificial insemination using frozen semen from
  1967
• Development of bull stations, semen banks, LN
  plants, containers
• Promoting private AI
• Door service of AI
• Customer satisfaction
• Field performance recording
• Sire evaluation
• Production of next generation bulls

7
3 tier AI organisation
3 bull stations
Mattupatti Kpuzha
Dhoni
7 regional semen banks
Kulathupuzha, Mavelikara, Muvattupuzha,
Chalakudy, Dhoni, Puthupady, Kannur
2971 AI centers
Trivandrum
Kasargode
8
AI PROGRAMME
9
PROGENY TESTING PROGRAMME
10
Sunandini

• Swiss Brown, American BS, HF and Jersey
• Selection for 7 generations
• Has a wide genetic base
• Ideal for many parts of India

11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
Age at first calving (m) of Sunandini cows
according to years
15
Reasons for success

• Human factors
• Technical
• Financial
• Institutional

16
Reasons for success Human factors

• Farmers cooperation from the beginning
• Dairy farmers were not politically lobbied
• Technical approaches concepts developed in a
  participatory manner
• Smooth technology transfer to Indian experts
• Discipline, time management, hard work, careful
  funding and mutual respect well conceived

17
Reasons for successTechnical

• Systematic and planned approach for breeding
  programme implementation
• Role clarity
• Technical programmes adapted to suit the given
  situation.

18
Reasons for successFinancial

• Cost recovery for breeding service implemented in
  a phased manner
• Swiss support helped to have money at the time of
  need
• Govt. of India supported the R D activities

19
Reasons for successInstitutional

• The programme enjoyed full autonomy
• Privatisation of AI service began as early as in
  1974
• Before the ISPK collaboration ended the breeding
  organisation was registered as govt. company, the
  KLD Board

20
The impact - I

• Dairying emerged as a major source of employment
  for the low income groups
• Sunandini cows gave better livelihood support for
  the poor
• Dairying is the second highest income generating
  agricultural activity

21
The impact - II

• Milk consumption was higher by family members
  keeping cows
• Improved nutritional status of the rural
  population

22
Conclusion Lessons learned - I

• Livestock development is an excellent means for
  poverty alleviation
• Breeding systems need
• institutional and organisational support
• autonomy to manage funds

23
Conclusion Lessons learned - II

• FPR enables active participation of smallholders
• The introduction of new technologies needs
  adaptation long project duration
• Programmes de-linked from government gave
  satisfactory results

24
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENT LISTENING