DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES:-

A) Large Animal Development:-

The genetic improvement of the local cattle and buffaloes is take-up mostly through Artificial Insemination programme as well as through natural breeding by selected bulls. Steps are being taken for health coverage and disease control of these animals by preventive vaccination programme, deworming etc. Two centrally sponsored projects are being implemented in the district to take up the above activities.

   i) National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB):

The project is being implemented since 2003 to provide organized breeding services to cattle and buffaloes of the district extensively so that more improved varaities of these animals can be produced thereby to increase the milk production of the district. Different activities trakenup under this project are:

       a) Opening of New AI Centers:-

All the Vety institutions (VDs & LACs) are to be provided with required AI inputs to provide AI facility to the large animal owners . Presently all the institutions of the district are provided with AI facility.

       b) Conversion of Static AIC to Mobile AIC:-

The AICs are provided with mobile LN2 containers so that a farmer can avail the AI service at his door step. All the AICs of this district have been converted to mobile AI centers.

        c) Establishment of Natural Service Centers:-

In some of the inaccessible areas improved bulls are being provided to the selected hosts (identified by the Sarpanch of concerned GP) to breed the local cattle and buffalos when they come to heat. At present there are 29 natural service bull centers in the district.

       d) Placement of Gomitras:

The Gomitra is an educated unemployed rural youth being selected by a committee, trained, provided with required inputs and placed in the concerned GPs without any Vety. Institutions to provide AI and other services to the farmers by which he is self employed himself. At present 87 Gomitras are working in different G.Ps of the district and proposal has also been sent for selection of Gomitras in other G.Ps where A.H Institutions are not available.

       e) Cattle Insurance Programme:

The CB and improved cattle and buffaloes owned by the private farmers are insured under this scheme by paying 50% of the premium cost for one or three years. Last year 16,628 animals were insured against a target of 20,000.

       f) Infertility Treatment Camps:

Infertility treatment camps are conducted at village level to treat the animals for temporary infertility.

       g) Farmers’ Awareness Training Programme:

Camps are being organized at village level to make the farmers aware of the advantages of AI, Breeding and general management of their livestock.

       h) Skill Up gradation of Departmental Personnel:

The VASs and the LIs as well as Gomitras are imparted training to build their skill in field of breeding time to time.

       i) Field Performance Recording:

It is a programme for selection of elite bull mothers in the farmers stock. Good yielders are selected and bred for improved male progeny, which will replace the bulls of Frozen Semen Bank in future.

        j) Controlled Breeding Programme:

Administering hormones so that more number of cows and buffaloes of less fertility character may come to heat for breeding practices synchronization of heat.

       k) DLRDS:

A Society named District Livestock Resources Development Society is also registered for the district under the Presidentship of the Collector and Dist. Magistrate, Cuttack to look after the AH activities properly.

       l) Distribution of LN2 and other AI inputs:

The AI centers of the district are regularly supplied with the required amount of LN2 and other required AI inputs periodically to take up the AI work smoothly. A calendar is prepared ahead for the year for this purpose.

       m) Breeding Work by The NGOs and Dist. Milk Union:

One NGO ( UABRT, College Square, Cuttack) is also carrying out the AI work in some of the pockets of the district. The required inputs are also being supplied by the Department to them to take up the service.

There are about 170 AI centers under the Dist. Milk Union in addition to the Departmental AI centers who render AI service to the farmers of the district at MPCS level.

       n) Gomitra Training Center:

A Gomitra training center has been set up at the district head quarter for imparting theory and practical training for the Gomitras. Already four batches have completed their training in GTC from Cuttack, Jagatsingpur and Nayagarh district. Also the Refresher Training of Private A.I Workers of the state is being conducted here round the year.

ii) Assistance to State for Controlling Animal Diseases( ASCAD):

The programme is taken up in the district for controlling animal diseases and related activities. They are:

       a) Health Coverage:

All the Vety. Institutes including VDs and LACs are provided with required facilities to look after the health status of the domestic animals and birds of that locality. The sick animals are provided with desired services by the Vety. Doctors and Livestock Inspectors regularly.

       b) Preventive Vaccination and Control of Animal Diseases:

Efforts is being made to cover all the livestock and birds with different vaccines to control the occurrence of contagious diseases. A calendar is prepared for each village of the district for this programme indicating the dates and type of vaccination throughout the year.

       c) Organization of Animal Health Camps:

Health Camps are being organized at village level to treat the animals in a mass .

       d) Field Diagnostic Laboratory:

All the VDs and some potential LACs of the district are provided with required facilities for examination of fecal samples. But blood samples and skin scrapings for preliminary diagnosis of animal diseases are done at V.D level
       e) Farmers’ Awareness Camps:

Awareness and Training camps are organized at field level to make the farmers aware for taking care of animals in First Aid and control measures.

       f) Mass Deworming Camps:

Deworming Camps are also conducted to deworm the improved progenies born out of AI and Natural Services. Also special deworming camps for small animals are conducted twice in a year for better meat production.

       g) District Diagnostic Laboratory (DDL):

A well-equipped DDL is functioning at Vety. Hospital, Buxibazar, Cuttack. Diagnostic measures for different diseases are being carried out in the laboratory for better health coverage of livestock of the district.

       h) Disease Surveillance / Out Break:

The field functionaries remain alert for any occurrence of outbreak and take necessary measures to control it. Regular survey is made for the incidence of any disease in endemic area for different diseases related to animals.

       i) Vety. . Measures during Natural Calamities:

During situations like flood, cyclone and draught different measures are adopted to face the situation. Mass vaccination, deworming, disposal of carcass is adopted in the affected areas with distribution of cattle feeds and fodder for the affected animals.

B) Small Animal Development Programme: (Sheep / Goats)

The district has a good number of small animals specially sheep and goats. The sheep are mostly of ‘KUZI’ variety which posses a special character of prolificacy, not found in other sheep. The goats are mostly ‘ BENGAL’ type, popular for quality meat. All most all animals are owned by weaker section of people of the district. The methods adopted for the improvement of these animals are:

i) Supply of good quality Rams and Bucks is proposed through water shed and ATMA programme to the animal keepers.
ii) Awareness and skill up gradation training is organized for scientific management of theses animals for the farmers.
iii) Up gradation with ‘Boer’ is practiced in some areas of the district.
iv) It is also proposed to introduce AI in goats.

Piggery:

A few number of ( around 2700) mostly of ‘Deshi’ type owned by poor and backward class of people who are nomadic. Rearing of pigs is still in a state of unorganized condition.

C) Poultry Development:

The District has a very good scope for poultry rearing. There are a good number of birds reared by the people under farm condition and a good number of local variety birds are also seen in small units in villages. There are some large layer units and hatcheries in private sector.

A Duck Breeding Farm (Departmental) is running at Khapuria, Cuttack for supply of quality Ducklings to the farmers.

Maize, which is a major ingredient of poultry concentrate feed is supplied to farmers on subsidized rate by the AH Department.

For better Coordination between the Poultry Entrepreneurs and the Department Poultry Workshops are organized at Dist. level every year. Eight PPCS are established in the district.

D) Fodder Development:

The Department takes up different activities to promote fodder cultivation in the farmers field. Some of the major activities are:

i) Supply of Fodder Seed Minikits to the farmers at confessional rate during Kharif and Rabi
ii) Supply of roots and slips for raising perineal fodder plots.
iii) Pre Paddy fodder cultivation programme:

Leguminous fodder seeds (kits) are supplied to the farmers during premansoon season to sow in paddy fields. The farmers are benefited by getting quality fodder for their animals and the fertility of land is enhanced by nitrogen fixation through theses leguminous plants( CowPea). This saves about 20% of nitrogenous fertilser per acre of land.

iv) Training and Awareness Camps:

Awareness and training camps are organized at regular interval to make the farmers aware about the fodder cultivation.

v) UTPS & AZOLA:

Demonstration of UTPS is conducted at the village level to increase the nutritive of paddy straw. Farmers are being supplied with Urea and other inputs by the department for treatment of straw.

AZOLA an aquatic plant is a very good alternate feed for the livestock and birds. Farmers are motivated through demonstration for its cultivation at home for better feed supplement to their animals and birds.

vi) Grass Land & Grass Reserve (GLGR):

Unused pasturelands are identified and selected for pasture development at GP level under central assistance with 100% subsidy. By it the rural farmers can procure green fodder easily and sufficiently from their village pasture land whenever they require. 19 nos of pasture lands have been identified and required funds amounting to Rs.8.5 lakhs each have already been provided to the concerned Sarpanchs. Only 5 units have been established and rest 14 nos. atre not implemented due to non receipt of permissive possession.

E) AH Development under Govt. Sponsored Scheme:

The Department plays a key role in implementing the Govt. sponsored schemes like dairy, poultry and small animal development programmes. The major roles are:

i) Preparation of model projects for PMRY. KSK and SGSY.

ii) Supervision of different AH units.

iii) Organization of Skill Up gradation Training for the Swarojgaries.

iv) Training of Departmental personals on SHG concept.

F) Integrated Sample Survey Programme:

Field survey is being done in selected villages during different seasons of a year( Summer, Rainy & winter). It helps to collect information regarding the population , quantity of milk, meat and eggs produced, surveillance of disease and marketing of livestock products in the district.

G) Cattle Market & Slaughter House:

There are about seven weekly cattle markets in the district where a number of animals are being sold and purchased. The authorities have been informed to provide minimum facilities for the animals coming for sale.

Two registered slaughter houses are there in the district in addition to which a number of un registered slaughter houses are also slaughtering the animals for meat purpose.

H) Co-operative Activities:

Different steps have been taken up to strengthen the co-operative movement especially in Poultry sector. They are:

i) Organisation and registration of Poultry Societies.

ii) Skill Upgradation Training of Poultry Farmers

iii) Provision of Maize to the farmers on subsidized rate.

iv) To assist in marketing Poultry products of the farmers.

I) SPCA:
A Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is organized under the Presidentship of the Collector and Dist. Magistrate, Cuttack this year. Some of the activities proposed to take up in the district as follows:

i) Establishment of a ‘GOSADAN’ for the old disabled and stray animals.
ii) Animal Birth Control and Immunization of stray dogs.
iii) Establishment of Kiosks for animal slaughter.
iv) Awareness among the people through mass media, debates, rallies and shows.
v) Constitution of ‘Friends of Soul’ in different educational institutions.
vi) Setting up of a mobile Vety. Dispensary for the animals in distress.
vii) Establishment of a Vety. Hospital in CMC area by the SPCA

J) AH Development through Watershed and ATMA:

Animal Husbandry activities are also being carried out through watershed and ATMA project. Organization of Animal Health Camps, Training of Farmers, Demonstrations like back yard poultry, Fodder development and other extension activities are proposed to conduct under the projects.

CONSTRAINTS:

• Out of 159 LACs 126 LACs are running in thatched houses (rented). It is very difficult to operate in such houses as there is problem in installation of travis for treatment of animals as well as storing of costly instruments like microscope, castrator etc. Though R.I.D.F Funding is available for construction of the building but there is problem in alienation of land in most of the places.
• Gomitras of this district are working satisfactorily. Some work-linked incentive may be arranged to them from the GP Fund or funds from the DRDA for their sustainability.
• A Gosadan may be established for settlement of stray bulls.
• The GP authorities may arrange some reserve funds for AH developmental work in the concerned GP at the time requirement like at the time of OB, Natural Calamity etc.

Chief District Vety. Officer,
Cuttack