GENERAL ARTICLE
HOW TO IMPROVE THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN KERALA: SOME NUTRITIONAL THOUGHTS Ajith K.S1., Anil Kumar, K2 and Dipu, M.T3. Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu.
Challenges and Opportunities Why the cattle population is decreasing in Kerala in spite of the increasing demand of milk is being debated in every animal husbandry seminars. There is a decline in total cattle population and the buffalo population shows a more rapid declining trend. The demand by consumers are not met by production within the state and the human population is increasing day by day. There is always a deficit of 25 percent in milk as far as requirement is considered. In Kerala, out of the total geographical area of 38.86 lakh hectare, 18 percent of the land area is barren land or uncultivated land area or cultivable waste area which can be utilized in one way or other for improving the livestock sector.
J. Ind. Vet. Assoc., Kerala. 10 (1)
One major problem faced by Kerala is the weak feed and fodder base. With the shift in cropping pattern of Kerala, the area under rice cultivation has come down by more than 50 percent over the last two decades leading to drastic reduction in the availability of straw for feeding cattle. It is estimated that the state produces only 60 per cent of the roughage requirement for cattle in Kerala.(economic review, Kerala 2010) As a result roughage in the form of straw is being brought in to the state from adjacent states at an exorbitant rate. Kerala has got a unique distinction among Indian states that, it is the only state which uses readymade concentrate as the major feed resource, 1. Asistant Professor, Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu. 2. Associate Professor & Head, Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu. 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences , Mannuthy.
66
instead of depending on “homemade” feeds. Regarding the cattle feed concentrate, which will have to supplement the shortage in quality fodder production, the current level of production is not enough to satisfy the requirement. Now KCMMF, Kerala Feeds Ltd. and a few private players are taking conscious steps for facing this challenge. Dairy farmers in Kerala have tried to adjust with the situation by restricting the number of cattle and by preferring high yielding cross breds. This is evident from the steady increase in the proportion of crossbred animals, which Kerala achieved during the last three decades. What is the way out ? A joint effort by the researchers, policy makers and implementing agencies is the need of the hour. Some thoughts which may be valuable are narrated here. Development of “local” feeding standards Most of the feeding standards which are being used today are developed for conditions not directly related to feeding practices prevailed under Kerala conditions. Farmers in Kerala use a wide range of low quality and unconventional feeds. As the partitioning of nutrients are complex and are governed by a number of factors including the genotype of the animal, quantity and quality of feed and the environment, the possible solution is to give nutritional recommendation to the farmers under our managemental conditions and some efforts are being done by the Department of Animal Nutrition, KVASU.