State to use Phaltan breed to increase sheep numbers

Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra, on Monday, said the department is trying to give emphasis to Phaltan breed for increasing sheep population  in the State.

Pune based Nimbkar Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) has been able to prove that a Phaltan breed of male sheep can assist in increasing the livestock in the State.
 Briefing reporters, he said, “As many as 10 Phaltan breed of male sheep were procured by the institute and engineered to increase sheep production. They were then placed with a female sheep from Sira taluk in Tumkur. 

The sheep has now given birth to three lambs. Ideally a sheep gives birth to one or two lambs. We are now trying to procure Phaltan livestock to increase our livestock in the State.” 

While order was placed with NARI for 30 Phaltan sheeps, he said, the institute could only provide 10 due to heavy demand. Each Phaltan breed sheep costs around Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000.

Training

The department is also dispatching 60 animal husbandry officials to the institute for training on how to utilise the Phaltan breed for increasing the livestock, and disburse the knowledge among farmers. “The concentration will be on farmers who breed maximum number of sheeps in parts of Chitradurga, Belgaum and Haveri. We will popularise the breed in these parts of the State to double the livestock in the coming days,” he added.

Vaccination drive

The department, he said, will start foot and mouth disease vaccination drive for livestock from September 1. 

The disease had claimed the lives of 14,000 livestock and cattle in 2013. He said subsequent to the outbreak of the disease the department was successful in vaccinating 95 per cent of livestock (1.19 crore animals).

 “This year, we will take up the initiative on similar lines with the pulse polio drive. Our aim is to achieve 100 per cent vaccination,” he said.