Going bovine: Govt plans sanctuary for cows to preserve indigenous breeds
29 Aug 2014 5:01 AM IST
While stressing on initiatives for preserving indigenous breed of cows, union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday said, ‘When lion and tiger sanctuaries can exit in the country, why can’t there be cow sanctuary to control the depleting population of indigenous cows.’ Its any matter that sanctuaries under the existing rules are opened for wild animals and not domestic cattle.
The Narendra Modi government has allotted Rs 150 crore for its pet project Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. Speaking at an award function, the union minister said, ‘India has 17 per cent foreign breed cows, while 83 per cent cows are of indigenous breed, but due to climatic changes the milk production of indigenous cows is reducing day by day. So instead of foreign breeds, we must focus on rearing and conserving indigenous breed.’
Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintain each animal until his or her natural death. Animals are not bought, sold, or traded, nor are they used for animal testing. The resident animals are given the opportunity to behave as natural as possible in a protective environment.
‘As the land required for sanctuary is large, the states have been asked to provide land for the same. Also, since the scheme will be implemented by states, the agriculture ministry has called a meeting of state animal husbandry ministers in the last week of September to work out the modalities of the programme,’ said the minister.
The Narendra Modi government has allotted Rs 150 crore for its pet project Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. Speaking at an award function, the union minister said, ‘India has 17 per cent foreign breed cows, while 83 per cent cows are of indigenous breed, but due to climatic changes the milk production of indigenous cows is reducing day by day. So instead of foreign breeds, we must focus on rearing and conserving indigenous breed.’
Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintain each animal until his or her natural death. Animals are not bought, sold, or traded, nor are they used for animal testing. The resident animals are given the opportunity to behave as natural as possible in a protective environment.
‘As the land required for sanctuary is large, the states have been asked to provide land for the same. Also, since the scheme will be implemented by states, the agriculture ministry has called a meeting of state animal husbandry ministers in the last week of September to work out the modalities of the programme,’ said the minister.
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