Goa to set up Cattle Sanctuaries in both districts

SHWETA KAMAT

shweta@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: In order to provide shelter to stray cattle in natural environment and to promote organic farming, Goa Government will set up Cattle Sanctuaries in North and South Goa district, which would be run by private operators. The sanctuaries, which will serve as a tourist attraction, will have a separate section to house the native Goan cattle breed ‘Shwet Kapila’- recognised by ICAR, which is in low productivity.   

Strengthening of the existing gaushalas by implementation of skill development programmes thereby making them self-sustainable is yet another crucial move proposed by the Government in its ‘Animal Health and Welfare Policy’, prepared by the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. 

As per the 2019 Livestock census, the cattle population in the State is 60,247 while 27,207 are buffaloes. 

“Cattle are let loose on the street/roads as a result of non-productivity and owners not being able to bear feeding, maintenance cost and not being able to slaughter due to prohibition as per Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995. Stray cattle on road have the potential to cause fatal accidents, affecting safety of human life and also pose a major threat of spreading zoonotic disease to humans via their secretions and excretions on civic amenities,” the policy document added. 

It also admitted that these stray cattle, out of hunger, are forced to feed on leftover vegetables, rotten in the garbage, plastics and papers which affect their health adversely. “Spent, aged and uneconomical scheme animals as well as cross bred male calves are also contributing to this problem. Besides this the native Goan Cattle breed, recently identified as ‘Shwet Kapila’, which is of low productivity and is seen roaming as stray cattle on the streets,” it added. 

The policy stated that two cattle sanctuaries will be set up by identification of suitable land in North and South Districts wherein all these animals will be housed. These cattle sanctuaries, besides having adequate infrastructure for housing, will also be equipped with modern equipments for processing cattle by-products like biogas, vermicompost, bio-pesticides, panchgavya medicine, jeevamrut, dung based dhoopbatti, dung cakes, compressed dung pots, etc, which will in-turn set an example for gaushalas to become self-sustainable. 

“The cattle sanctuaries will serve as a potential base for generation of organic manure, which would in turn help agriculture farmers achieve organic farming in the State. This model may be outsourced for operation to private agencies as decided by the Government,” the document mentioned. 

Calves born and reared from these animals at the sanctuary could be auctioned or sold as pregnant heifers to the interested dairy farmers in Goa with an undertaking in the form of a bond. 

These cattle sanctuaries could also serve as a tourist attraction as well as an awareness initiative for educational institutions, the policy mentioned. 

Also, the department is of the view that in order curb the menace of stray bovines on the street and rehabilitate them in a humane manner, it is imperative that the State has a network of gaushalas. 

Presently few gaushalas are available but these gaushalas don’t have the proper infrastructure, planned design, and land as per the requirement of animals, and are totally dependent on the government for funding. 

“Strengthening of existing gaushalas by implementation of skill development programmes organized at the cattle sanctuaries. This will make gaushalas self-sustainable and generate employment, by training the personnel to utilise the full potential of dung and urine,” it said. 

The policy also speaks about the need for animal identification using modern technology and forming a database that carries all the information viz a viz their species, breed, age, sex, vaccination, disease, treatment in all the gaushalas thereby helping in monitoring of animals.