State-level milk-yielding contest

Vijayawada: The Animal Husbandry Department and Andhra Pradesh Livestock Development Board will organise a State-level milk yielding competition from December 26 to 28 at Hanuman Junction.

The competitions will be held in three categories including Ongole Breed (traditional, desi), Jersey Cross and Holstein Friesian (HF) Cross. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three in each category as an incentive to milch cattle rearers.

Addressing reporters at the Veterinary Association Hall here on Tuesday, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Dr T Damodara Naidu said that the annual event was meant to encourage milch cattle rearers to adopt modern methods in dairy farming to boost milk output. Awareness programmes to educate farmers on modern methods of dairy farming would also be held as part of the event. A sum of Rs 75,000 will be given as first prize in Holstein Friesian (HF) Cross, Rs 50,000 in Jersey Cross and Rs 50,000 in Ongole Breed categories. A HF Cross breed buffalo should produce a minimum of 12 litres of milk a day, Ongole breed six liters and Jersey Cross breed 15 litres, which is the eligibility criterion to take part in the contest, he said.

District Livestock Development Board chairman G Anil Kumar, assistant director of Livestock Development Board Dr K Radhakrishna Murthy and others were present.