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| AGRICULTURE TRIBUNE |
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Humble
bullock continues to hold its head high Much revered but grossly overused, bullocks in Haryana and adjoining areas of Punjab continue to be a major source of draught animal power, mechanisation of farming operations notwithstanding. It is estimated that Haryana has about 3 lakh bullocks being used for a variety of purposes, including ploughing, transportation of goods and passengers and drawing water from Persian wheels. There are a number of reasons why bullocks continue to hold an important place in rural life. However, two of these are the most important. The first is tradition. Cows being revered in the Indian society, their male calves are traditionally reared lovingly by farmers and then used as bullocks in farming. This emotional bond between the farmer and his bullocks is still strong. Secondly, bullocks still make economic sense for medium and small farmers. A tractor-trailer for these farmers is a liability. The initial expenditure and later operational costs and maintenance are too high for farmers with smaller holdings. Most such farmers have already burnt their fingers by buying tractors on loan and then selling land to repay it. They have reverted to bullocks. A young pair of bullocks costs around Rs 10,000, which is negligible as compared to tractors. Likewise, a bullock cart costs just Rs 12,000 to 15,000. The trailer for tractor costs significantly higher. Dr Zile Singh Rana, head of the Department of Animal Breeding, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, says rural economy has a self-contained production system in which small farmers keep livestock in proportion to the crop residues available to sustain the cattle virtually free of cost. Largely, family labour is used to look after the cattle. This explains why bullocks fit in so well despite the changing agricultural scenario. Breeds There are basically two main breeds of bullocks used in Haryana. The most popular is Hariana. This breed belongs to the group of cattle which has short horns, a long coffin-shaped skull, inconspicuous orbital arches and slightly convex facial profile. Its ancestors presumably entered India through the northern passes with Rig Vedic Aryans. All the breeds of this group are found along the route taken by the invaders from the northern passes through Central India to the South, stretching from Kalat in Pakistan to a point in the southeast, a few miles north of Chennai. Hariana cattle derive their name from the tract known in ancient times by that name in the eastern half of the old Hisar district, parts of Rohtak and Gurgaon districts in Haryana and certain areas of Patiala in Punjab. The name Hariana is most probably derived from "hari (green)" and is reminiscent of a time when this was a rich and fertile tract. This breed received much attention during the days of the Moghul emperors when large quantities of milk were required in the Delhi-Rohtak-Hisar tract. Besides, this breed is produced in more or less pure form in Jind, Nabha, Patiala, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Loharu, Alwar, Bharatpur and the western districts of Uttar Pradesh such as Meerut, Bulandshahr and Aligarh. The other popular breed of bullocks is Mewati. These cattle are found in the tract known as Mewat, which is an ill-defined tract lying south of Delhi, including the whole of Alwar, part of Bharatpur in Rajasthan and a small part of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It also includes parts of Gurgaon district of Haryana. This breed is also called Kosi, as large numbers of cattle of this breed are sold at Kosi, a small town near Mathura. Mewati cattle are similar to Hariana but show definite evidence of an admixture of Gir blood. Since the native breeds Rath and Nagori also thrived in the Mewat area, these two breeds may also have contributed to the evolution of the Mewati breed. These are usually white in colour. The neck, shoulders and quarters are darker. Occasionally, individual cattle can have Gir colouration. The face is long and narrow with a bulging forehead. Horns emerge from outer angles and turn backwards. Mewati cattle are in general sturdy, powerful and docile. They are useful for heavy ploughing, carting and drawing water from deep wells. Bull calves are castrated when they are about three years of age and broken for light work. They are supposed to take the full load of work when they are above four years of age. A pair of bullocks can haul about 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of load in an iron-rimmed cart at an average speed of three miles per hour to a distance of 15 or 20 miles per day. In the fields, they can work for eight to 10 hours a day. However, bullock breeding has not received much attention insofar as crossbreeds are concerned, though the Hisar-based Government Livestock Farm produces the Tharparkar crosses. Experts say this is because crossbreeds with exotic bloodlines are generally unsuitable for conditions in the area. They can also be aggressive an attribute not desirable in bullocks. Besides, their bodyweight requires more feeding which makes them uneconomical. With land holdings getting smaller by
the day, bullock sharing is becoming popular. Under this practice,
small farmers keep only one bullock. Such farmers borrow a bullock
from a fellow small farmer when the crop is to be transported to the
mandi in a cart drawn by a pair of bullocks. This makes sense as
maintaining a pair can be uneconomical when only a single bullock is
required for most other agricultural operations. Till farmers continue
to be so innovative, bullocks will remain an integral part of the
agricultural society. |
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Mastitis
control Mastitis, or inflammation of mammary glands, in cattle causes heavy losses to dairy farmers. An inflammation of the parenchyma of the mammary gland regardless of the cause, mastitis is characterised by physical, chemical and bacteriological changes in milk and by pathological changes in the glandular tissue of the udder. It is caused by bacteria, fungus, mycoplasma or virus. Apart from cattle, sheep, goat, pig, horse, etc., are also susceptible. The infection of the teat canal spreads from the infected animal to healthy ones or through milking machine liners or human hands that milk them. Risk factors Higher age. Exotic and crossbred cattle. Initial and end stage of lactation. Incomplete removal of milk from the udder. Breeds having slung udder and long teats, which render more mechanical damage. Any injury to teat/udder during milking. Since bacteria are present on the udder normally, any skin lesion can lead to infection. Poor hygiene. Types Per-acute: This is the most serious form. In this the animal has very high temperature (106-107`B0 F), remains off feed and has respiratory distress. The udder is swollen and painful. There is cessation of milk secretion and the exudate is often blood stained. Acute: In this form, there is change in the milk. It may be replaced by custard-like material or yellow/ brown fluid with flakes/ clots. Sub-acute: In this there are variable changes in milk, but practically no change in udder tissue. Milk culture shows pathogenic bacteria. Chronic: This is the terminal stage of the disease. The udder becomes hard due to fibrosis. The supra mammary lymph nodes are enlarged. The quarters may become thickened, nodular and reduced in size. The milk may be a yellowish fluid or white with clots and flakes, or even green or yellow-green and foul smelling. Treatment Isolation of affected animals. Removal of milk secretion. Giving a combination of antibiotics (local as well as parental) with the help of a vet. Supportive treatment, i.e. isotonic fluids containing glucose, antihistamines and corticosteroid. Drying off the quarters. This can be done by infusion of 30-60 ml of 3% silvernitrate solution or 20 ml of 5% coppersulphate (nila thotha). Prevention Check spread by dipping teats in antibacterial solution (1:2000 potassium permanganate, commonly called lal dwai) following milking, for 15-30 minutes, or dipping in l % iodophor solution. Milkers should wash their hands with antiseptic solution. Clean and disinfect milking machines regularly. As concrete floors can lead to mastitis, the bedding should be prepared with sawdust/sand. Maintain strict hygiene in the milking parlour by using a fly-repellent spray. Containers should be washed
properly with washing soda. |
