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| AGRICULTURE TRIBUNE | Monday, May 5, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
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Dairymen have to get out of old mould When fertilisers become cattle-killers
Software for online agro marketing Comparison wrong: coop bank staff |
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Dairymen have to get out of old mould DAIRY farming goes through constant changes and a dairyman can be successful only if he keeps himself abreast of the latest advances and facilities in the field. Many are not able to profit much because they are not properly aware or have not learnt from the deficiencies in the past and continue to use conventional and obsolete methods. One experience underlined this very aspect of our dairyman. There was a particular short training course in handling frozen semen held at the Agricultural University, Pantnagar. This course was conspicuous by the fact that the trainees were veterinarians while the instructor was an American dairy breeder. He struck to all of us as a breeder with innovative ideas, seasoned, well informed and well versed in artificial insemination and semen deep-freezing. He imparted tips that were a fresh learning experience. That is the kind of man our dairy farmers should aspire to be. Artificial insemination It should by now be known that the entire edifice of cross-breeding rests on artificial insemination, which permits extensive use of superior genetically proved bulls on a large number of cows making it economically possible to obtain calves sired by the best bulls. Increase in milk and superior calves can raise the income and living standards of the dairy farmer. This can only be possible if the dairy owners understand the intricacies of artificial insemination. The following should be well understood: ovulation (shedding of ovum) takes place 14 hours after the end of heat; the duration of heat varies from 8 to 30 hours (average 18 hours), the sperm need is 7-8 for capacitation (penetrating the ovum); the minimum of sperms per insemination is 30 million; and that radiation affects the quality of thawed semen. A farmer should be perfect in the detection of a cow in heat. Considering the above facts, he should be in a position to present his cow in heat for insemination at a right time.
Facilities The Animal Husbandry Department has improved the quality of service and renders the facility at the doorstep of the dairy farmer. However, many dairy farmers still go on keeping private, unproven, crossbreed bulls, even though the overall facilities, infrastructure and delivery have been upgraded. It is unwise to get claves from unproven crossbred bulls when the semen of superior proven sires is available. Moreover, breeding through such unproven bulls is bound to spread brucellosis, TB and other genital infections. Such bulls should be condemned and contained by the Animal Husbandry Department as it is detrimental to the breeding status of a dairy farm. It is in the interest of dairy owners to get their cows/buffaloes inseminated by competent inseminators at their doorstep and providing environment and facilities conducive to ideal conception rate. This environment would mean a calm site, shade and suitable water for thawing of semen straws. Ignoring these requirements would mean a disappointed owner. Infertility The wisdom of a dairy owner lies in timely reporting to a competent veterinarian the cases of anoestrous with abnormal discharge, too short or too long heat periods, abortions, nymphomania not settling within 60 to 90 days post-partum. Any laxity on this account is bound to shatter the cherished goal of “a calf a year”. By far the largest single cause of wastage in dairy herds is due reproductive troubles. Abnormalities of the reproductive organs affect the overall reproduction. In general, uterine infection and subsequent inflammation is a common cause of infertility in dairy animals. Only veterinarians with training in physio-pathology of reproduction and artificial insemination from reputed institutions are capable of treating infertility. Various chemotherapeutic agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics and hormones are available to treat the challenging cases of infertility in bovines. However, the treatment can never compensate for shortcomings such as improper heat detection, nutritional deficiency, poor hygiene and management. Diagnostic facilities of the Animal Husbandry Departments at local polyclinics or the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory can help a vet decide the correct line of treatment. |
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When fertilisers become cattle-killers NITRATE toxicity in ruminants is becoming an emerging problem due to extensive use of nitrogenous fertilisers that cause consumption of fodder with higher nitrate content.
Nitrates are also used as additives to milk to prevent fermentation in the making of cheese (the whey then contains nitrate). Organic nitrates (nitroglycirine “polynitrates”) are used as vasodilator-hypotensive agents. Animals may ingest any of these agents. The toxic principle is usually potassium nitrate and may be ingested in quantities enough to cause gastroenteritis. Pigs are the most susceptible, followed by cattle, sheep and horses, to nitrate poisoning. Cattle reduce nitrate to nitrite in the rumen. The degree of methaemoglobinemia (reduced ability of the blood to carry oxygen because of reduced levels of normal haemoglobin) also varies with the quality of the diet. Source The common sources of nitrate for farm animals are cereal crops, water from deep wells, oat hay (3-7 % nitrate), immature green oats, barley, wheat and rye hay, Sudan grass, corn or sorghum fodder, turnip tops and sugar beat tops. It is considered that high levels of nitrate accumulate in the soil during drought and are absorbed in large amounts when the drought ends. Animals may also ingest nitrite when they feed on moist haystacks, farm ponds, and silages undergone microbial decomposition. Cases of nitrate and nitrite poisoning in dairy animals are increased due to heavy fertilisation of crops with nitrogenous fertilisers. Silage usually contains fewer nitrates than fresh crop because fermentation destroys nitrates. However, hay made from nitrate-rich berseem has the same level of nitrates as when it was fresh—some of the nitrate is converted into nitrite by overheating and the activities of moulds.
Clinical signs Salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting are seen in severe cases of nitrate poisoning. Dyspnoea with gasping, rapid respiration, muscle tremors, weakness, staggering gait, severe cyanosis, rapid weak pulse and normal and subnormal temperature are also observed. Frequent urination, clonic convulsion and abortions are reported. Clinical signs may be delayed by up to six hours after ingestion of nitrates due to the time required for conversion of nitrate to nitrite and nitrite to be absorbed. Cattle usually die within 12-24 hours of ingestion of toxic plants. Nitrate toxicity is enhanced by large total intake of nitrate over a short period, lack of prior exposure to nitrates, poor feeding practices and nutritional status, poor rumen function, hypovitominosis A, poor quality carbohydrate diet, change in ruminal pH, deficiency of molybdenum, copper and iron in the rumen, prior conversion of nitrate to nitrite in feed or water and presence of anaemia. Young animals are more susceptible.
Diagnosis and treatment Diphenylamine blue test is conducted to estimate the nitrite level in blood. Clinical signs with methaemoglobin levels are also important in diagnosis. Specimens for laboratory examination are blood for methaemoglobin estimation, ingested and suspected plants with chloroform or formalin. Differential diagnosis should be done with hydrocyanic poisoning. Methylene blue @ 2-5 mg/ kg body weight as 1% solution by the intravenous route is recommended therapy for nitrate poisoning. Treatment with methylene blue may be repeated after 6-8 hours if large amounts of toxic material have been ingested. However, indiscriminate use of methylene blue aggravates the problem and it also has a carcinogenic effect and causes economic loss due to the staining of carcasses. Blood transfusion, oxygen therapy, saline purgatives to empty GIT, mineral oil to soothe GIT lining and oral administration of broad spectrum antibiotics in 8-18 litre cold water to inhibit microbial conversion is also recommended. Vitamin A, D, and E are also useful. For prevention, indiscriminate use of nitrogenous fertilisers like urea to forage crops should be avoided by farmers. |
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TREE TALK
Phenology Taur being a climber its shoots have a recoiling terminal tendril, nature’s adaptation to help the plant climb on to other plants. The shape of leaves is somewhat like the footprint of a camel and they measure 40-45 cm across. Old leaves, if not already removed by the rights-holding villagers for various uses, are shed gradually during autumn. New buds sprout in spring. Its white flowers are terminal corymbose. These can be corymbose recemes also. The stalk is 3 to 6 cm long and slender with a lanceolate caducous bracket at the base. Taur fruit is a flat pod. These start developing during October-November and ripen by January-February. When mature, pods measure 25-30 cm x 6-8 cm and nearly 8-12 mm thick. Distribution Taur occurs naturally in tropical and sub-tropical zones. In Asia it grows from Burma to Afghanistan. Along the longitudes, it comes up naturally from Sri Lanka to outer Himalayas — between sea coast to hill ranges up to 1000 m, registering its presence fairly well in the Eastern and Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau, Shivaliks, etc. Climate The tree is capable of coming up and subsisting in a variety of climates and soils. However, areas experiencing temperatures from 20º to 40ºC and rainfall from 100 to 200 mm per annum suite the best. Well-drained ground with sandy loam formation and plenty of sunlight are ideal. General uses The main importance of taur is because of its leaves. These are prized for a number of applications. Stitched together, these make excellent pattals. Vaishnavite Hindus consider these pious and use them on religious occasions. Village artisans also make rain caps, umbrellas, large containers for shakkar (raw sugar), canopy for machans, etc. Of course, the leaves are used as fodder – especially during dry periods. The foliage serves as good mulch for protecting young seedlings from the sun. Tender fruit pods are roasted for a dessert. The seeds from mature pods are eaten raw as well as after roasting. The bark has good fibre of which ropes are made. Though the stem is pretty woody and hard, yet it is useful only as firewood. The large plain leaves and spreading nature of taur make it an excellent cover for conservation of soil on slopes affected by frequent landslides. Practitioners of oriental medication prescribe application of wet paste of the powder of dried bark of taur roots for healing burn injuries. The paste saves the sufferer from scars. Nuisance factor The main disadvantage in taur tree is that this climber plant covers and suppresses and kills the host species. Moreover, it has a menacing rate of growth. Under favourable conditions, it puts out nearly 10-15 m shoots in one growing season. Once atop a host tree, it soon grows over others around. It also makes the forest floor below too dry and inaccessible to let seeds of valuable tree species germinate. Because of this, forestry specialists of the nineteenth century used to exterminate it wherever possible. Regeneration Taur profusely regenerates on its own. Any special effort to regenerate it artificially is, therefore, hardly called for. Nevertheless, in view of the biodegradable packing material made out of its leaves, it is desirable to have taur in vacant patches and wastelands. Promoters of the species can collect taur seed from mature pods during January-February. The seed, collected by beating the pods, is preserved till May. During the first week of June it is soaked in warm water for 24 hours and then sown in nursery beds or forest patches readied for the purpose. The following monsoons can give a good start to the seedlings. |
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Software for online agro marketing GOVERNMENT-owned National Institute of Agriculture Marketing (NIAM) has developed a software for online agriculture marketing information service.
He was addressing a five-day workshop on the development of market atlas of Rajashthan in Jaipur recently. The online market information system would help market beneficiaries in a significant way by offering updated, quick and reliable information. In order to bring other states under the national atlas with more important parameters, NIAM is planning to collaborate with the Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Department of Space. For adopting a strong and effective marketing strategy, NIAM would create awareness among market functionaries . This will offer a nationwide geo-spatial database in different commodities with prices of all markets in the country.
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Comparison wrong: coop bank staff IN response to the article "Cheap farm credit distant dream," published on April 28, that pointed out the high cost of farm loans, the Punjab State Cooperative Banks Employees Federation has this to say: The cost of management of the cooperative banks in Punjab is much lower than the cost of management of cooperative banks in the country. The cost also includes sizeable expenditure on account of deputationist staff thrust upon the cooperative banks by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab. If this staff is reverted back and unwarranted expenditure on the exchequer of cooperative banks by way of cars, computers, entertainment, etc., is cut, the cost can be less than the permissible limit. Moreover, Sahakari Banks are not "sarkari banks," hence they are not a drain on the state exchequer. The government compares the pay of the cooperative banks with nationalised banks only in those two categories where the gross salary of employees is more than the nationalised banks. It has mislead the people by ignoring the categories which get salaries much higher than their counterparts in cooperative banks. The qualification for clerk in the cooperative banks for first entry is graduation, whereas in the Punjab Government the qualification is matriculation. |
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REE TALK
TAUR is an enormous evergreen broad-leaved plant. It is, in fact, a perennial woody climber that grows into a medium-sized tree, at times even up to a girth of 1 to 2 m at breast height. The vernacular word “taur” s pronounced like the common Punjabi feminine surname, “Kaur”. The scientific name being Bauhinia vahlii, its family is Leguminocae-Caesalpineae. It has many regional names like tauria, malu, maul, maljhan, jallaur, sihar, borla, chehur, paur vela, lamma, rung, etc. The plant has certain man-friendly qualities as well as disadvantages. It is, therefore, important to know the species in detail.
Says NIAM Director-General V. Ramnath that in line with the recommendations of the Expert Committee and Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Agriculture Marketing, the organisation has completed a pilot-research study on preparing a “National Atlas for Agriculture Markets for Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.”