Kerala is feeling the ill-effects of an official policy that favoured disease-prone crossbreeds over low-maintenance native breeds.
Visitors flow in and out of Chandran Master's compound in P. Vemballur, Thrissur, Kerala. Students, teachers, trainees in animal husbandry work and even officials walk around like it's a public space. And in some ways, it is. People come a distance to see his 22 cows and two bulls — mostly from rare indigenous breeds. Also, the many kinds of mango, bamboo and fish he has cultivated, again species native to India. The former English teacher also boasts a classic Kathiawari horse and several native breeds of poultry. But the star attractions are the tiny Vechur — “the world's smallest cow” — and other dwarf varieties of Kerala cattle.
The visitors' interest also reflects a growing concern in the State about the fate of domestic breeds of cattle and other livestock. Like elsewhere, a strong emphasis on crossbred cattle that aimed at higher milk production also saw a sharp decline in native animals. There is now a serious debate on the results of that approach. Kerala's cattle population declined by around 48 per cent between 1996 and 2007.
Changed stance
Dr. R. Vijayakumar, Director of Kerala's Animal Husbandry Department (AHD), says the State's new breeding policy “limits exotic [that is, non-native] germplasm to 50 per cent of cattle. We are now also propagating native breeds. We even conduct artificial insemination with the semen of native bulls.” And while the number of animals may have fallen between 1996 and 2007, “milk productivity of cows in the State rose in that period. From an average of six litres a day to 8.5 litres, even as crossbreeds came to account for 87 per cent of Kerala's cattle.”
However, the cost of milk production is much higher with the crossbreeds. The feed requirement of native dwarf breeds like Vechur and Kasargode are very minor. Their feed-to-milk conversion is very good. The crossbreeds are high-maintenance animals and are disease-prone. “See this Vadakara Dwarf,” says Chandran Master. “I doubt I spend five to ten rupees on her feed daily. Still she gives me three to four litres. But the quality of her milk is highly prized and I could get Rs.50 a litre for it. So even in that way, the benefit is greater. There is no high standard of feed required either. Kitchen scraps and leftovers can be used. And they don't require special sheds or anything.” He, however, does not sell milk. He does sell “very few calves each year when the numbers exceed my capacity to manage.”
Of the Vechur, he says its milk has medicinal qualities recorded by Ayurveda ages ago. In more recent times, studies at the Kerala Agricultural University have also shown the percentage of fats and total solids of the Vechur cow to be higher than that found in crossbred cows. The smaller size of the fat globules in the Vechur's milk makes it more suitable for infants and the sick.
AHD Director R. Vijayakumar says the decline of native species had many causes. Not just the castrations of ‘non-descript' varieties that had occurred in a much earlier period. He points to “the trend towards cash crops which brought about a decline in animal-based agriculture and to a younger generation of farmers with no time or patience for rearing large animals — they prefer smaller ruminants. And to a greater interest in crossbreeds due to their higher milk productivity.”
Hardy and healthy
But costs and maintenance are another matter. “Before I switched to local breeds in 1994,” says Chandran Master, “I had three crossbreds, including one Swiss Brown. I had to spend up to Rs.400 a day on each. The feed was very costly and over Rs.200 a day. Pellet feed, rice powder, wheat powder, oil cake, green grass, it's endless. They would fall ill all the time and the vet was here every week, with each visit costing me Rs.150 apart from the expense of arranging a vehicle for him.”
Since making his switch: “No vet has attended my cows for 17 years. And I have not even insured a single one of them. These are hardy, healthy creatures.” And several experts do point out that India's native cattle (Bos indicus) have evolved to cope with the climate and to “withstand diseases, parasites and calve easily without human assistance.” Scientists like Dr. Sosamma Iype, who pioneered the revival of the Vechur at KAU, also point out that these dwarf animals “have good resistance to foot and mouth disease and mastitis. Both, diseases which plague crossbred cows in Kerala. Vechur cattle also have a far lower incidence of respiratory infections.”
Most livestock owners in Kerala are either small or marginal farmers or even landless. The State has the highest percentage of crossbreeds in the country. And while its average milk yield has risen, production is far below demand. The State is not amongst the top producers in the country. Feed utilisation per litre of milk is also one of the highest in India. Critics say it's wrong to ignore the steep fall in cattle numbers and native breeds that has hurt the State, alongside decades-old policies that made it illegal for a farmer to keep any bull without a licence for it. That licence is only granted at the level of State Director of the AHD.
Technically, Chandran Master and others are breaking the law. But surely the State has no way of knowing whether a farmer is keeping an “illegal” bull? “A hostile panchayat can make life hell for a farmer,” says one expert. “If that farmer is at odds with the ruling outfit of that panchayat, they can keep him in court for months.”
Red tape nightmare
Haritha Bhoomi (Green Earth) a journal on agriculture recently summed up the red tape involved in permissions of any kind: Say a farmer wishes to exceed the limit of six large animals and 20 head of poultry, even by a minor number. He needs clearances from the panchayat to just start the process. If you exceed the quota, you have to go to the Pollution Control Board. Depending on the size of the establishment you wish to build, you will need certificates from the District Town Planner. Perhaps even from the State Chief Town Planner. Manage to get these done and you have to prepare a technical report for the panchayat and get three or four certificates from them. Then the farmer must get clearances from the district medical officer to whom he has to submit NOCs from all residents within 100 metres of his planned farm.
On my first visit to Chandran Master's home I had run into a Livestock Inspector (LI) from another region. Wishing to remain unnamed, he told me “On most of my visits I see the problems faced by the crossbreeds. They fall ill with the slightest change in climate. They cannot take the heat.” Chandran Master chipped in: “You cannot sleep one night peacefully. Crossbreds can't stand ten minutes of rain. With local breeds, you don't even need cowsheds.” The LI nodded: “If I keep a cow, it will be a Vechur.”
(PS: Following Thursday's story in The Hindu, the Sahabaghya Vikash Abhiyan, a community-based body deeply involved in Kalahandi's agriculture, has announced it will gift Chandran Master two calves of the rare Khariar breed. The challenge now is to transport them from western Orissa to Thrissur in Kerala.)
Keywords: Chandran Master, Vechur, Kerala cattle breeds, rare cattle breeds, livestock development, critical maintained breed, domestic animal breeds, animal husbandry
Traditionally Indians were not habitual milk drinkers. We got our calcium from other sources that are better assimilated by the body. The problem is not lack of calcium, but the ability to absorb the calcium. You can be drinking cows milk but you may not easily absorb the calcium from it. Osteoporosis is high in milk drinking countries. And cows milk is probably more water than anything else. So what you are paying for is water. Many men in politics, science and business don't know what they're talking about because they don't even cook well, or even consume the products they promote over long period of time, to establish a real truth.
Let us not exploit the vechoor cow for milk and by artificially inseminating her. A cow is not even able to bond with her child so that her milk can be taken away from her. Certain scientists have shown disrespect towards females (whether animal or human) by invading her reproductive realm, to manipulate it for money.
Also likewise indigenous crops and varieties of seedlings must not be allowed to be sacrificed in favour of GM crops . This article gives 1 more reason why the BRAI bill to be tabled in parliament next session must be opposed by one and all in India .
Is there such a serious concern about animal pollution near major urban centers in India? Perishable milk is best used/sold close to the urban centers. In every city I have lived in there are dairies within 1-4 hours distance. The pollution factor is reduced by simple methane collectors, like those used at waste dumps. It begins with plastic sheeting, old tires to sequester manure, then insert methane collector rods as the reduction process accelerates. Soon you have dry detritus for mulch. Travel in Mexico makes me wonder if India may suffer some of the same cultural/financial barriers to advanced practices. To get high yield out of a dairy you need equipment, a lot of cows, regular grain supplies for feedlots, etc... Individual rural farmers I've met in Mexico cannot accomplish this. The loan risk for such enterprises is beyond the imagination of banks. Could small corporations or cooperative dairies be organized with 4-5 farmers on one simple business plan? Coops work well.
Sainath doesn't seem to be tired of treading the length and breadth of rural India! It's a wonder that such journalists still exist.
Good article, Thanks to The Hindu, since our domestic animals are declining in a faster rate than the wild animals.But we are not at all bothering about that, not only cows, it includes dogs,hens,buffalo,goat etc. We prefer foreign products,breeds rather than our own product and breeds.This article has given a light into this issue. I expect more article like this
We always should try to preserve our native cow varieties like vechur, for their resilience to diseases in Indian climatic conditions and low maintenance cost which is a boon to low and marginal farmers who earn part of their livelihood from it.
The article is very interesting and informative. Can you give me the phone number or e-mail id of Chandran Master.
It is so heartening to see a white collar educated person taken to animal husbandry and found it to be a fertile and enjoyable enterprise! More over, his passion to grow native breed and the economical benefits on account of it is a fascinating finding. The 'go foreign' mind set actually did not pan out to be economically beneficial. Indian music is going through such a romance with western music and instruments and my feeling that the outcome could be same! Congratulation to Chandran master and others like him !
very interesting article. I also want to visit Chandran Master's farm.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" - wrote Mahatma Gandhi. Be Indian, think Indian, act India and buy Indian is an age old Mantra. Chandran 'Master' is showing how it can be attempted and achieved. P. Sainath is sensitizing and conscientizing us through his well-researched articles. Thanks.
Earlier i used to have many buffaloes of murra,delhi, haryana varieties and i am practicing farming with their dung,etc without using fertilisers. After reading a lot on palekars farming practises, i turned towards indian cows. Now i have a few indian cows like ongole and other local breeds. Recently two punganur small cows and one malnad cow have been the addition. sainaths article was very interesting and informative. Governments should now start encoraging indian cows and start protecting them. Banning sale of cows for beef could be the answer.
Any holistic study of agriculture would lay bare the deceit of the modern industrial form. It is no wonder that the cow has been long venerated in our agrarian society as an indispensable factor of rural economy in the production of Food, Fuel and Fertilizer - three arguments of doubtful subsidy programs mandated by an economic paradigm based on incomplete scientific thought. It is also no wonder that a 'desi' model is superior in local environs - natural evolution is tailored for that outcome! Chandran Master reminds me of the 'illiterate' widow somewhere in Karnataka who preserves about 28 strains of coarse grains on her acre (or half), besides taking classes for Swedish documentary makers.
Sainath has been vocal on farmers' plight - I can well imagine the depressions the crusade would have cost him; and I wish him many more encounters with the likes of Chandran Master that he can share more happily. Also, that he, and other commentators, can change the minds of some powers that are.
The need to maintain native breeds is well explained. There is also a passing remark in the article that milk is not the same from all cows. It is certain that exotic breeds from cows to poultry birds are giving superior results quantitatively, but lack the credibility on the quality aspects. In Tamilnadu more families are switching from broiler chicks to country chicks, because of bad biochemical and metabolic symptoms associated with broilers. Whoever in possession of more information or research results on the quality front or metabolic impairment caused by exotic, GM breeds can share the information to create awareness and to force injformed decisions.
Happy to hear so much response from the readers of HINDU.Since my brother is a dedicated farmer with good collection of vechoor cows, i am quite familier with them and always look forward for collecting more informations.
Surely some of the breeds like Vechur, Punganoor, sahiwal, Sindhi etc. are extinct for all pactical considerations.The mighty Tharparkar, Ongole , deoni etc. are also in crisis and you dont find good specimens. The process of extinction started taking toll of these breeds. Reasons are many. In every seminar/symposium/conference scientists deliberate on these issues but without any result. NGOs/environmentalists are also crying but no result.Improvement and conservation efforts have to be intensified in all the core breeding tracts. NDDB in Rajasthan and NDRI in Bangalore have initiated efforts but there are too many obstacles. Intensiv efforts have to be taken on war footing failing which we may loose all imp. breeds in a decade.
I want to share this important information with Mr Sainath: According to a study, over 70 per cent of Kerala’s population eat beef. In 2003, the Kerala Animal Husbandry Department calculated that total beef production (legal as well as illegal) to be around 72,834 tonnes or in other words 14.49 lakhs of cattle are slaughtered every year. Last year the ToI quoted the AHD as saying the meat consumption in Kerala is 5000 tonnes a day. Factoring in 70 per cent of this as beef, I have reached a figure of 12.27 lakh tonnes of beef annually. And beef is no longer a poor man’s food in Kerala where it costs Rs. 140 pr kg while meat costs Rs 160.
year 2011 I heard about holy vechur cattle.I heard VECHUR is the name of one island.. Article is informative.Thanks to sainath & The Hindu..
Thanks to Hindu and P Sainath for publisging 2 articles on native cow breeds of Kerala. It would a pleasure and benefcial for the framers of Karnataka if Hindu publishes an article on the dawrf variety of Krantaka "Gidda".
The journalism as practised by P Sainath is commendable, without doubt. He goes in a very systemic way to bring forth the issues affecting the common man. I wish further research is undertaken to bring out the reasons under which such policies are adopted, which stand to harm the populations in the long run. Such an exercise would help in future policy making and at the same time enlighten the local populations to make conscious choices.
Kudos to Chandran Master to use common sense and native knowledge and stick to it. Wow it is tough to stand up to red tape and do what is correct and common sense. If we just ape what works or worked in west then what is use of 5000 years of history.
It is a very interesting narration highlighting the superiority of the local breeds than those introduced from foreign countries. While it is true that the foreign breeds do not have the resistance to diseases and adjustability to our climatic conditions as the local breeds, it is difficult to understand that our breeds are efficient in milk production even cost-wise. The very purpose of cross breeding is to retain some of the good traits of the local breeds in the progeny whilst its milk productivity is enhanced at least partly as that of the foreign breed. To substantiate the observation that the local breeds are superior, the observation of the Director, Animal Husbandry Department Kerala has brought in. If the selected local breeds are better in milk production why should the Department spend money for cross breeding programme. No doubt that the local breeds have some good qualities but to enhance the milk production in the state, depending upon them alone may not be wise. The licenses are required for dairy and poultry when the number of animals and birds exceeds certain limit and go for a commercial venture. But red tape should not be used in genuine cases by the authorities when the requirements are met with.
At the end no one breeds cattle as a hobby.There may be exceptions like Chandran Master who have love for a specific breed, most rear cattle for commercial reasons. The commercial reasons for breeding cattle will eventually overweigh the love for breed. There is no need to force anyone to do this or that. But what is unfortunate is making this love for the animal as illegal. That needs to change at a minimum.
Wonderful article and I am pleasantly surprised to see the interest it has generated. Why this obsession with cow's milk though? Its really meant for calves and not us humans. And all the cruelty that goes into milk production....If people in India start being open to other alternative milks like soy milk or nut milk, we can make many positive changes. And I really hope the "amazing" Western dairy practices like feeding cows cow parts arent being adopted in India.
Very refreshing; this article on such an essential and earthy topic needs more publicity. One of the comments was quite pertinent - the unbearable conditions in US. A present resident in USA, i cannot concur with the comment. the unhealthiness of cattle, pig, poultry in developed country is unimaginable. Profit has its costs-it cannot be sole determing factor. indigenous species whether plants or animals are healthy, well-adapted. hindu needs a long applause for publishing this.
In this Tamilnadu Govt has begun a program for providing cow to Below poverty Households. This will usher in White revolution.Hope Mr Sainath analyses it
Serious article to counter "white revolution". We are so good in taking opposite view of any "new" development. Why is this is not visible to any Indian scientist. Is this another "state Hindu" secret?
It is amazing how Indians cows take so little from Mother Earth and give so much back. And the healing qualities of their milk has been well documented in Ayurveda. Western cows pale in comparison.
About 40 years ago, a family friend of ours replaced her native cows with horribly priced exotic cows. A few months later, when I asked her little son (aged 8 or 9 years at that time) how the new cows were doing, he innocently said to me in Malayalam, "Oh! they are just expensive dung machines!". Unlike farm and animal experts, it did not take 5 decades for him to observe the simple facts and reach a quick conclusion. A few years later they discontinued their small dairy business and like everyone else started buying bottled milk even for their own consumption. I wish our so called experts have had 10% of this small boy's observation power and wisdom.
An exceptionally heartwarming cow story!Hats off to the enlightened "law breaker",Chandran master,perhaps one of the rare humanitarian/"bovinal" Machiavellian!The unwritten heirarchy amongst the cattle class is indeed an uncharitable extension of an atavistic colonial psyche-the irrational obsession with all that is not indigenous.Also,the real story of the ought to be facilitating authorities turning red tapes ensuring innumerable roadblocks, demoralising the already sapped farmer.It is high time to reset the priorities which inturn demands a realistic balancesheet which honestly register the credit and debit columns of the indigenous and the crossbred.Perhaps an unadultered way of bridging the gap between the demand and the supply! Hoping the thoughtful gesture of Kalahandi's Sahabhagya Vikash Abhiyan will etch an ever inspiring chapter in the Vechur cowstory!
The story of the Vechur breed is akin to that of the Pungannur breed in Andhra Pradesh. At the Rishi Valley Education Centre we are working with a group of farmer conservationists to promote the endangered Pungannur breed which is often called the poor man's Kamadhenu. Government programmes continue to encourage exotic cross-breds for which subsidies are provided. To adapt ourselves to the challenges of climate change, conserving the hardy, local indigenous breeds is crucial. When are the mandarins in the Planning Commission and the Government going to realise that unless we proactively conserve and promote indigenous crop and livestock breeds we are not going to have nutritional security?
Mr.Sainath gives us a clear cut picture of where our rural life are today.The heart beat of village life can be heard from his each article.He played an exemplary role in bringing the rural life to the limelight.Through the experiences of Chandran master Mr.Sainath shows us the sacrifices suffered by each person to protect native breed for our future generations and how our official law leads to the extinction of native rare breeds in our country.Today we are concentrated in overproduction and the economic benefit from it .As a result we have lost our several indigenous variety of seeds and breeds .We look for others for our daily needs such as seed,manual and foods.Dependency has become our habit.Mr.Sainath I salute you for the great work done in bringing the voices of the unheard the real voices of India.A great salute to The Hindu also.
Thank you for the article. Many of our religious leaders were supporting our indigeneous cow species. This nice article further strengthens the beleif. We are heading to wrong directions if we are half heartedly follows every bit and peice of Western Worlds saying which is based on the economics of the masses and not sensitive to Individuals Health.
I have been a visitor to and traveller in California. The horrible stench, that made me nearly pass out every time we drove past a dairy farm, shocked me. In India, whenever I passed by a cowshed or a field spread with cow manure, I used to stop awhile to take in the pleasant, earthy cow smells. On enquiry, I was told that the abominable stink of California dairies is due to the high protein, economically most productive feed that they use for the cattle. This is made from the offal, waste parts and blood and bones of other butchered animals, including other cattle. I was told more stories of unbelievable cruelty. Science without conscience or compassion! I do not want to nor will give my grandchildren milk from such a source.
Rightly said and observed, but problem today is the demand of milk, which can not be met alone with native cow. 18th Livestock Census observed, still more than 60% of our cattle population is nondescript, which need to be improved. Conserving our native germplasm is very essential in all aspect but crossbreeding too has played its own role, never forget the Operation Flood programme that was based mainly on the production of cross bred animals and the result is known by every one of us. So the best way out is the area based breeding policy with emphasis on integration. Farmers like Chandran Master, need to be appreciated and more such farmers should join their hand together, and present an alternate model before other farmers to emulate. Missionary approach by forming Specific breed society by such farmers may also work for conservation.
Only a hearty salute to Chendren Master- let us hope to get more people like him!
I just today started to read Mr.Sainath's "Why everybody loves a good drought??" and to know that the native breeds of Kerala in addition to the Khariar variety have been literally made extinct owing to non-sense strategies and planning is a bitter pill to swallow. The Government has to change its current approach and encourage farmers like Chandran Master who have taken up a phenomenal task of reviving the 'lost' varieties. This is yet another ill-effect of blindly following the westernized appraoch and techniques.
It is indeed a situation of our own making...we as a country seriously lack introspection and resultant self-respect. That shows in every policy that is made and every facet of public life...when have we ever treasured our own indegenious goodness when faced with commercial temptation from abroad??? Neverthless the story of Chandran Master and other good samaritans like him is a silver lining to this culture.
Hopefully their numbers will increase and be heard by the silent majority!
Well balanced article.
Both the articles were intriguing and nicely written. The appeal by Sainath to preserve our domestic breed strikes to rural and urban alike. I would give anything to have a glass of milk of Master's cows. And, a nice gesture by Sahabaghya Vikash Abhiyan to donate 2 calves of Khariar breed, Chandran Master's secret desire. It's unfortunate, though, that Master might be deemed as law-breaker. Its high time now to weigh in all the factors before ruling out a particular breed just on the basis of productivity.
P.S. - On a lighter note, KFC must be a welcome figure in Kerala.
It appears that as far as journalism is concerned, Mr. Sainath is a different 'breed'. It was a pleasure to read his article on cows. We take pride in saying that India is the largest producer of milk in the world. However, with the miserably low daily milk yield in India, it takes half the bovine population of the world to produce this milk. Because of low productivity, milk is not affordable to the masses. our protein starved diet can use milk especially for our children to produce healthy brain and body during their formative years. There is a scientific way of producing cow's milk. With my interaction with diary people in India, new milk production technologies are not followed by our dairy men. These technologies is used in western countries for over half a century. For example, in California, where I am resident as a consultant to California farmers, the average daily milk yield is between 35 and 40 liters per day and chidren get to drink 3 eight ounze glasses of milk per day.
Kerala is dependent on shipments of agricultural products such as rice, coconut, fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and eggs from outside the state. The whole Kerala is one single urban area. There is scant land for agriculture or cattle grazing, the foundations for milk,meat and egg production. Cattle and poultry feeds are expensive because all the ingredients have to come from outside the state. The bureaucracy to get permission from panchayath, Pollution Control Board, District Town Planner, State Chief Town Planner, District Medical Officer, State Director of Animal Husbandry and NOC from all residents around are insurmountable with licencing, permits, politics, bribes, dearth of agricultural laborer and delays. It is preferable to bring milk, eggs and meat from outside the state. Only the Chandran Masters illegal small farm with Vechur breed can survive in Kerala! Don't blame the breeds of cattle and poultry for the poor agriculture and animal husbandry development in Kerala.
Masses have to come to Agricultural field with small diaries to fulfill the need of Keralites. If not the environmental pollution will increase and agricultural produce will decrease. Cow dung is an extra input to bio gas plants with sewage waste and kitchen waste can reduce the usage of LPG too. Slurry can be used as quality manure in the field of Agriculture.
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