Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

TTD, SV varsity to usher in white revolution

TIRUPATI: Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams and the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati, have agreed to work in close tandem for the protection of the dwindling cattle wealth and also augment the milk production in the TTD Dairy Farm .

A seven-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday in this connection by the TTD’s Executive Officer, K.V. Ramanachary, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Veterinary University, D.V.G. Krishnamohan, in the presence of Minister for Animal Husbandry M. Buddha Prasad and TTD Trust Board Chairman D.K. Audikesavulu besides others.

The two leading institutions have agreed to collaborate with each other on a range of issues of common interest in the area. As a logical follow-up, an extension unit of the TTD’s Dairy Farm -- “S.V. Integrated Goshala” -- would be set up at the government-run Livestock Research Station, Palamaner, about 95 kms from here to serve as the venue for the joint operations of the two premier institutions. First and foremost objective which the MoU seeks to achieve is to produce pure wholesome cow milk to meet the entire requirement of the temple of Lord Venkateswara, the other TTD temples located in and around Tirupati besides the allied TTD institutions like the Annadanam complex, Queue Complex, TTD canteens and so on.

According to a note circulated at the press conference, against a requirement of 6,000 litres per day, the existing dairy farm with a strength of 150 cows is able to provide only 1,500 litres which eventually makes the TTD to procure the balance from other sources.

The MoU also would facilitate steps for conservation and improvement of pure breed of indigenous cows and protection of non-milking cows. These two major factors were stressed at the national conference ‘Go Matha’ hosted by the TTD last year to come out with a policy frame to protect cows from being slaughtered ,misused and abused. The conference also expressed anguish over the fact that of the 70-odd breeds of native cattle that existed a few decades ago barely 33 were now available in India while the others got extinct due to neglect and lack of proper conservation measures.

Another major fallout of the MoU would be a joint effort for R&D on the scientific analysis of the ‘Panchagavya’ —byproducts of the cow viz; milk, curd, ghee, dung and urine for use in agriculture, veterinary and human health care.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

TTD, SV varsity to usher in white revolution
Will the challenged get their due?
‘Ill-treatment’ of seer flayed
Updated voter list to be ready soon

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu