| Project
for preservation & Upgradation of Indian Local Breeds of Cattle |
A Profile of Prof. M.A.Lakshmithathachar
(Prof. MAL) - His experience with rearing pedigree cows.
Prof Lakshmithathachar’s experiments
with Hallikar Breeds
- Though he had a burning desire to improve the existing Desi
breeds he did not get the opportunity to do the same because it
requires sufficient infrastructure, time span (a minimum of 10
to 15 years) and considerable financial support.
- Though he began rearing cows from his 15th year, he had to
wait till his 62 year to make his dreams a reality.
- He personally took up the project of improving and preserving
the pure Hallikar Breed from the year 1999.
- Then he found the following short comings in the existing breeds:
- 100 percent pure Hallikar cows or bulls were not available.
- Even the best animals had only 65 to 70% purity.
- Their milk yield had come down drastically i.e. a cow would
yield only half a litre to one litre per day which was not
even sufficient to maintain the calf.(This was due to the
selection process of the bull. The farmers would always select
a bull if it had all external features of that breed. They
would not bother about the milk yield of the mother of the
bull.)
- The farmers did not have the knowledge of the modern selecting
system and they would not maintain any documents regarding
their performance.
- Under these circumstances he took up a costly project of preserving
at least one Indian breed viz. Hallikar breeds in its pristine
purity.
About Hallikar Breeds
- Hallikar breed is not only the pride of Karnataka but also the
pride of India.
- I have heard people telling me that "your bull is like a horse
because of its striking characteristics".
- They are very fast and agile.
- Two hundred years back Tippu Sultan could win the war over the
Britishers because of the bullocks he possessed viz. Hallikar
and Amritmahal bullocks.
Background of preserving and improving the Hallikar
breeds
- Before taking up this project, Prof MAL visited the repositories
having Hallikar cows and bulls.
- In Turuvekere (in Hassan District) Govt. farm, there is a herd
of Hallikar bulls and cows. But the percentage of purity of these
cows is 65 to 70% only, due to various reasons which are not mentioned
here.
- In Hesaraghatta, Government of Karnataka has maintained nearly
15 Hallikar bulls. But the quality of these bulls is very much
below the expected standards. While procuring the bulls, the concerned
officers depend upon local mediators and this has lead to many
clandestine deals.
- Though the Govt. of Karnataka has got enormous amount of money,
no NGOs or other organizations have come forward to take up this
task because of it is time consuming and not economically viable.
Steps carried out in this Project so far:
- Since Prof. MAL had a passion for the preservation of Hallikar
cows, he took up this task at his personal level at the ripe old
age of 62 years and has come halfway through.
- Slowly he began to collect the best cows of this breed available
in the market
- For this purpose he visited the ‘Jaatre-s’ regularly
held in the Hallikar belts of Karnataka.
- Not only selection of good cows is necessary, selection of good
bulls is also necessary.
- In the initial stages, importance was given to external features.
- By selective breeding, the quality was improved to 80 to 85
%.
- Later the calving pattern and dry periods were also studied.
- Normally a Hallikar cow calves once in three years. Now, many
of the cows in this herd calve once in one and a half years.
- The lactation period is increased. Even after they conceive
they milk for some time now.
- There is good demand from farmers for cows of this herd. But
MAL is reluctant to sell them to these farmers, since they are
interested only in making profits.
- If the present herd disintegrates, then the efforts put in for
the last 7 years will go waste.
- Now, MAL, who is running 70 has no financial support to maintain
these cows and the bull. The monthly expenditure is about Rs.
15,000/- to 20,000/- .
- Because of his passion, for the preservation of these breeds,
he has already spent Rs 7 to 8 Lakhs and burnt his fingers.
Achievements
- Now, the purity of the breeds has brought to about 90 %.
- Sub-varieties of the Hallikar breeds like ‘Sanna-mallige’
and ‘Gujumavu’ have been identified and reared.
- The male calves present here are so good that, if fed well
and preserved, may fetch a sum of Rs. 25,000/- each.
- If further improvement is done, each male calf may fetch a
sum of Rs. 40,000 to 50,000
- High quality heifers are in this herd. Dry period of these
calves has been brought down and the same is one and a half years
as mentioned earlier.
- Experiments are afoot to make the rearing of cows economically
viable.
- If perfect characteristics are there, a pair of good bullocks
may cost more than Rs. 1,00,000/-
- Three high standard bulls have been supplied to BAIF Institution
(Pune)
- Though Prof MAL is reluctant to part with these animals which
are developed over a period of 7 years by dint of hard work and
by spending time and money, he is eager to give it to an organization
which will continue his efforts.
- He is willing to give his advice and expertise to any agency
which may takeover the project.
- He is NOT expecting the entire amount to be reimbursed which
he has invested in this project. He is also not expecting anything
in return for the time, effort and expertise put in for the development.
The agency that takes over this project may partially reimburse
the amount MAL has invested for purchasing the cows and their
maintenance over the last seven years.
Details of the Cattle in the Herd: Hallikar Cows:
- Kaveri (Srirangapatna)
- Aged about 10 years
- Carrying – xpecting to deliver in the next 2 months)
- Lactation period – 10 months
- Male calves of this cow may cost about Rs. 20,000 in the next
one year.
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