Animal Husbandry
CHIRAG's animal husbandry programme focuses
on breed improvement and advanced animal care and nutrition. The objective
is to promote fewer, more productive animals, to reduce pressure on the
surrounding forests and grazing lands.
The core component of this programme was started around 1990 with the introduction of Hybrid bulls. When crossed with local strains, the progeny have two-fold higher milk yields but retain much of the vigour of local breeds. In all, over thirty bulls of hybrid breeds have been introduced and have sired over 2,000 progeny.
Two veterinary clinics were run by CHIRAG through the 1990's and several paravets have been trained. All told, over 5,000 animals have been treated through this programme. Fodder cultivation
training, and the introduction of appropriate technologies (such as silo towers and improved
feeding troughs) are some of the other aspects associated with the animal husbandry programme.
Animal fairs (pashu melas) are conducted at regular intervals to spread awareness about improved animal care techiques. Recent surveys show that the overall number of cattle have decreased since
this programme was introduced.
