CAU looks to promote local cattle breed
Source: The Sangai Express / Ng Liklaileima Arambam

Imphal, October 31 2022: The Central Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal is pushing for recognition of the local cattle variety as a breed for promotion and conservation.

More popularly known as Meetei San [Meetei cow| locally, 'Manipuri San' have been used in the fields for agricultural purposes since ancient times.

However due to rapid changes in agricultural practices brought by the green revolution in India, their usage has been drastically reduced in the fields causing sharp decline in their population.

In addition, Manipuri San have not been recognised as a breed by the India Government making efforts to conserve it difficult.

With lack of proper research on the animal, it is listed under the "Nondescript" category in censuses conducted by the Veterinary Department of Government of Manipur every 5 years.

In the 17th census conducted in 2003, Manipuri San population stood at 3.49 lakh.

The population drastically declined to 2.06 lakh in the 20th census conducted in 2019.Speaking to The Sangai Express, Professor Th Ranadhir, Head of Department of Animal Science, CAU said Manipuri San have been part and parcel of the people of the State in the agricultural sector.

The local cattles have been providing livelihood to the farmers and helping them earn their income.

They have been and are still a very useful breed in natural farming, which has no negative impact on the environment.

Due to its extreme usefulness in ploughing fields and other agricultural and allied activities, the bulls of the local breed (Manipuri San) were in high demand even in Assam's Golaghat region.

The females (cows) can give birth from 34 months.

They give birth every year and during its lifetime, a cow gives about 7-8 offspring.

They are easy to feed and rear.

They give about 1 and half to 3 liters of milk per day.

On an average, a cow gives about 2 liters of milk a day.

Its milk has also been a staple diet for the people.

However, due to their declining population, milk production has also been drastically reduced, he said Ranadhir also said Manipuri San are also somewhat tolerant of some of the common diseases like Foot and Mouth, Hemorrhagic Septicemia and B lack quarter etc.

He said, the Veterinary Science Department of CAU has finished a 3 year research on Manipuri San that details its physical characteristics, body measurement, reproductive character and management practices etc.

The research was done as part of a project under Characterisation of Livestock, Poultry Genetic Research (NER) Manipur 2021-2022 of the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Kamal.

A final report has been submitted to register and recognise Manipuri San as a breed under the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Kamal, he said.

Lacking recognition as a breed, Manipuri San is excluded from various developmental programmes and schemes.

After its recognition, it will be able to get the schemes and attention it deserves.

This will also immensely help in efforts to promote and increase its population, he added.

Meanwhile, one Nahakpam Arkay of Huikap Mayai Leikai said "Meetei San" is easy to manage and it requires not so much attention unlike other breeds of cattle.

His family has been rearing them for many years.

Before him, his forefathers had been rearing them for agricultural use.

Rearing them also earns him good, he said.

A pair of almost one year of old bulls would sell for around Rs 60,000.The same pair would sell for more than Rs 1 lakh if they are a little older than one year.

As their usage in the fields have been replaced by machines, their numbers have reduced and now they are commonly reared for their milk, he said.

Almost every farmer had a pair of cattle some decades ago.

Now the number of farmers who rear them has decreased over the years.

Coupled with this, increased killing of the cattle for meat is also posing a threat to its survival, he said.

Stating that farmers have also been using cattle manure in their fields to enrich soil and grow crops naturally, he said he would like to see Meetei San (Manipuri San) recognised as a breed for its conservation and promotion.

He also appealed to the scientists at CAU Imphal and the Government to take up measures to save the breed.

** This news story is written under the Media Fellowship Programme of Public Relation and Media Management Cell, CAU on Scientific Journalism in Application of Science in Agriculture.

For further information, contact Dr Indira Thounaojam through [email protected] .

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