KVASU to promote precision farming

At a time when the dairy sector in the State is facing a decline in productivity, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) has launched a series of farmer-oriented outreach programmes to enhance milk production.

The directorate of entrepreneurship, KVASU, is planning interventions in dairying like precision animal nutrition, productivity enhancement, and promotion of commodity-based self-help groups to ensure sustainable income from dairying.

Cross-breeding

“With the advancements in cross-breeding, the size of animals has gone up from an average 150 kg to around 350 kg. This has spurred the demand for feed ingredients, which alone account for more than 70 per cent of cost in dairying,” says T.P. Sethumadhavan, Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU.

Precision farming involves optimising feed, breeds, water, and other inputs for enhanced productivity. It is aimed at supplying nutrients to animals matching their requirements to improve their health and to enrich dairy products for the good of the consumer. The department of animal nutrition at the university has developed a ration-balancing software named ‘Ksheeraprabha’ to address the issue. The software has been widely publicised among farmers and self-help groups through the Department of Dairy Development and milk cooperatives.

Recent researches conducted by KVASU at Chittur in Palakkad district on the mineral status of soil, fodder, feed, and blood of animals showed adequacy in iron and calcium content, while there was high deficiency of zinc in fodder and blood. There is deficiency of copper and selenium, too. “Farmers were given mineral mixtures developed by the university, which have improved the health of animals,” says Dr. Deepa Ananth, principal investigator of the project on precision nutrition.

The university is regularly conducting farmer-scientist interactions across the State to transfer appropriate technologies, which can improve productivity in dairying, Dr. Sethumadhavan said.

With the advancements in cross-breeding, the size of animals has gone up from an average 150 kg to around 350 kg. This has spurred the demand for feed ingredients, which alone account for more than 70 per cent of cost in dairying.

T.P. Sethumadhavan,

Director of Entrepreneurship,

KVASU

The practice involves optimising feed, breeds, water, and other inputs for more productivity.

Source : The Hindu