In the constant search to find better cattle feed, many innovations have been made by agricultural scientists in the country. The latest one involves chocolate.
The Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, has developed cattle feed with chocolate in it that promises to increase the milk yield, improve the health of the animals and is an economically viable option.
The chocolate feed has been named ‘Narmada Vita Min Lick’.
“Dairy farmers would ideally like to feed their cattle green fodder. Unfortunately, that may not always be readily available. And cattle feed that is available in the markets is an expensive option,” Sunil Nayak, who heads the animal nutrition department in the university, told Gaon Connection.
According to him, the department had been experimenting and researching on alternative nutritious feed for the cattle. “We wanted to develop something inexpensive and accessible even for small dairy farmers,” he said.
Mineral mixture and chocolate feed
“The animal nutrition department had been entrusted with the task of developing a nutritious food supplement for the cattle, and the experts came up with the chocolate lick which fulfil the nutritional needs of the cattle,” Sita Prasad Tiwari, vice-chancellor of the Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, told Gaon Connection.
The scientists at the university have developed two different products. One is called Narmada Min, which is a mineral mixture, and the other the Narmada Vita Min Lick, that is the chocolate feed that contains molasses among other things.
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Both the products have received the ISO certificate (ISO 9001:2015). Both products were tested on cows, buffalos, sheep and goats, and it was observed that their milk yield, reproductive capabilities and immunity improved.
“The Narmada Min mixture is available to dairy farmers at seventy five rupees a kilo, while the Narmada Vit Min Lick is priced at fifty five rupees a kilo,” Nayak said. He pointed out that other mineral mixtures were priced at Rs 100 a kilo or more.
“The cattle keep licking the chocolate that provides them the nutrition supplement they require,” Nayak said. However, he regretted he could not reveal the other ingredients that went into the making of the lick.
Dairy farmers can buy Narmada Vita Min Lick and Narmada Min at Krishi Vigyan Kendras across Madhya Pradesh which have stocked up these new products.
Cattle chocolates and laddoos in Bareilly
The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), located in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh has also developed similar cattle chocolates and laddoos for dairy farmers to feed their livestock.
These supplements are made up of a combination of nutritious ingredients such as molasses, mineral salts, bran, urea, salt, etc. According to the institute in Bareilly, it has been observed that these supplements have increased the milk yield in milch cattle up to 18 per cent.
It has also enhanced the appetite of cattle and the rich protein content in the supplement has helped the cattle conceive better, said the scientists. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute conducts training programmes for dairy farmers so that they can make the supplement in the comfort of their homes.
Read the story in Hindi.
