Animal Husbandry

Profile / Objectives / Functions

1. Animal Husbandry Department plays a major role in providing veterinary health care and improving the genetic production potentialities of livestock and poultry reared in the State. Animal Husbandry is the root base of rural economy. It plays an important role in upliftment of the economic status of the rural and urban people. Apart from this, various beneficiary oriented schemes are also being implemented for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society
2. Upgradation of local stock of cattle and buffaloes by Artificial Insemination using exotic and cross bred semen for cattle and Murrah semen for buffaloes
3. Conservation and propagation of indigenous breeds of livestock in their native tracts
4. Augmenting the production potentialities of livestock and poultry and thus increasing the production of milk, egg and meat
5. Providing necessary and timely modern veterinary assistance and health cover to the livestock and poultry
6. Ensuring livestock health by preventing major livestock diseases through vaccination
7. Implementing various Central and State Government Schemes for the upliftment of economic status of rural poor
8. Protecting human health by detection and control of major zoonotic diseases of animals
9. Creating awareness among public on modern animal husbandry practices
10. Conducting training on basic and latest animal husbandry practices to farmers

Animal husbandry provides livelihood opportunities to million of small, marginal farmers and landless poor. Employment generation schemes when implemented properly can ensure higher levels of economic activity leading to sustainable growth in rural areas. Keeping this in mind, the Department is implementing various beneficiary oriented schemes for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor.

SCHEME FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION OF MILCH COW AND GOATS / SHEEP

The Government of Tamil Nadu announced on 09.07.2011 that in order to usher in another ‘White Revolution’ in Tamil Nadu, the Government would distribute one Milch Vow to each beneficiary free of cost.

The Government of Tamil Nadu also announced the implementation of ‘Scheme for Free Distribution of Goats/Sheep’ to the poorest of the State in order to improve their living standards. Each beneficiary is provided with 1 male and 3 female goat / sheep which are around 6-8 months of age.

SCHEME FOR POULTRY DEVELOPMENT (SPD) / SHEEP

Poultry farming has developed on a commercial scale in Western Districts of Tamil Nadu with Namakkal as the hub of development. To replicate this commercial success and to develop poultry industry in non-poultry backward regions, the Government of Tamil Nadu launched the Scheme of Poultry Development. As per the Scheme, at least 33% of the beneficiaries should necessarily belong to SC / ST Communities.

Broiler chicken rearing can be undertaken through integration wherein integrators supply day old chicks, health cover and feed required for the birds. The integrators also ensure that the birds are marketed through their won channels. Growing charges for rearing of chicks is paid by integrators to the beneficiaries. A broiler farm upto 5000 birds can be profitably run using family labour alone and thus negates the requirement of additional man power. A sum of Rs.2,68,750 is being provided to the beneficiary as 25% State Government subsidy under the scheme.

Since Native Chicken meat has a better market throughout the State, Native chicken rearing is encouraged under the Scheme wherein a flock size of 250 / 500 birds can be profitably reared and marketed by the farmers themselves. The beneficiary is encouraged to procure chicks form Native Chicken Breeders / Hatchery units. A sum of Rs.44,850 is being provided to a beneficiary as 25% State Government subsidy for rearing 250 birds. In order to encourage the beneficiaries to continue the avocation, for 2nd and 3rd batch, 50% and 30% of the chick cost is provided respectively as incentive.

FODDER DEVELOPMENT

Green Fodder is an important factor which determines the productivity of livestock. Giving importance and Provision of green fodder to animals increases productivity and availability of bio-nutrients. Incorporating good quality feed combined with feeding of green fodder reduces delayed breeding in cattle and buffaloes. This reduces intercalving period resulting in increased milk production and thus increasing the farm income.

Both quantitatively and qualitatively, there exist a substantial gap between the demand and supply of green fodder. To reduce gap between the demand and supply of feed and fodder through enhancement of production and efficient utilization is implementing State Fodder Development Scheme.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES

Improved infrastructure will result in improved veterinary services, tith a consequent increase in the overall productivity. With the ultimate aim of rural development, the Department’s infrastructure is being developed with assistance from State Government. Government of India and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT – CONTACTS:

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER,
Regional Joint Director of Animal Husbandry,
Thoothukudi.