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The 'holy' cow of the Southern Regional Station (SRS) of National Diary Research Institute (NDRI) is all set to enter in the Limca Book of Records.
The SRS has applied for an entry in the Limca Book of Records for the highly extraordinary yield of Jill, a Hariana breed of cow that was born on October 18 in 1909 at the Military Diary Farm of NDRI in the city.
"This cow lived for 19 and a half years producing 18 calves and rendering 18 lactations. The overall milk production of the cow was 1.55 lakh litres. The calves were subsequently used for genetic improvement programme at the dairy farm. This is one pioneering instance of successful cross breeding in cattle," Satish Kulkarni, Head of NDRI said.
Dr Kulkarni told the media on Tuesday that Another major aspect of the Jill cow was that Mahatma Gandhi, who had undergone two weeks training at the Military Dairy Farm along with Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1927 had developed great affection for the cow and had named it as "wonder cow" and "kamdhenu."
"We have submitted out application for entry into the Limca Book of Records in the centenary year of her birth." They have asked us to furnish certain documents and "we are in the process of complying with that," Dr Kulkarni said.
The officials from NDRI observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect to the "wonder cow." The Indian Dairy Association (IDA) has also sought greater investment by central and state governments to enhance milk productivity and increase value added products to ensure the country retained its numero uno position in the world.
Though India is the world's largest milk producer, the per capita yield is 950 litres a year, which is abysmally lower than of Pakistan's 1,400 litres per annum, National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) head Satish Kulkarni told reporters.
''Because of large number of cows the yield is high but per animal production is very low due to various reasons and there is urgent need to give more attention to increase the yield,'' he added.
Replying a question, he said dairy industry was contributing Rs 1,10,000 lakh crore of which Rs 28,000 crore was from organised sector.
''Even if we encourage organised sector we can achieve four per cent growth,'' he added.
He said it was recommended to the Centre and the Planning Commission to set up 'Dairy Export Promotion Zone' on the lines of Special Economic Zone as encouragement to produce bio-products from milk which would not only be a value addition but would also help in producing health benefit products.
He said milk production in India was equivalent to 14 per cent of the world production and it was growing at four per cent. But the need was to double the production to meet the domestic consumption as well as aim for export. Dr Kulkarni said at present the average yield per animal in India was 917 to 990 litres per year as compared to 8,000 litres to 9,000 litres in the developed countries and in neighbouring Pakistan it was 1,400 litres.
''Even if we reach 1,200 litres average that would be a great success in the sector,'' he added.
He said the three-day 38th National Dairy Industry conference beginning here tomorrow would deal with many issues, including development of the dairy industry and to meet the challenges in the coming years. The theme of the conference this year was 'Indian Dairying-Productivity and Food Safety.
More than 1400 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the conference to be inaugurated by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Chairman Dr Amritha Patel. Senior professionals, scientists and industry representatives of national and international repute, both from India and abroad would take part in the conference, he added.
The galloping feed and fodder shortage and issues of environmental concern pose a big challenge for these animals, he said adding that all these issues would be discussed threadbare and recommendations would be sent to the Union Government and Planning Commission.
