Unproductive Cattle - Know their economic value, The Himalayan Times 2020 Jan 8 Wed, RS Pande

Unproductive Cattle

Know their economic value

-       RAMESHWAR SINGH PANDE, The Himalayan Times 2020 Jan 8 Wed

The dry cows unable to give milk due to old age and the bulls not used for agricultural purpose are considered unproductive in Nepal. As the cannot be killed or exported, these unproductive cattle compete for fodder, water, space and other expenses, which is an economic burden on the farmers. In Nepal, the cow holds the religious sentiments for the Hindu people. She provides milk and is worshiped as Laxmi. Similarly, the male cattle play an important role in agriculture, and are used for ploughing, transportation, irrigation, threshing and others works.

The total population of cattle is estimated at 7.5 million heads of which 55 per cent are males. Of the female cattle population, only 15 per cent  give milk while 15 per cent  are below three years of age.

Of the  female cattle,  10 per cent are old and unproductive. In case of males only 20 per cent are either used in agricultural work or for breeding purpose, while the rest stay idle. Only, about 13 per cent of the cattle are of exotic breed, namely Jersey and Holstein.

The average life span of cattle is about 15-20 years. A typical cow gives birth to its first calf at the age of 2-3 years and starts producing milk, and subsequent calving takes place at intervals of every 12 -15 months. During her life time, a cow will give birth to eight calves by when  she is 10-12 years old.

The remaining years the cow remains dry and does not give milk. So, its economic value starts declining. But the cows will need to be provided fodder, water, vaccinations & medication, should they fall sick, as well as sheds which involve heavy expenses. Similarly,  rearing a weaned male calve when a cow stops giving milk is a heavy economic burden on the farmers.

In recent years, commercial dairy farming and use of high yielding exotic cattle breeds are increasing so its mechanization of agriculture and use of artificial Insemination for breeding.

Recent development in breeding technology have also made it possible to produce only female calves. So, the use of bulls in agriculture is declining. It is estimated that there are four million unproductive cattle of which one million cows are dry while the remaining three million males largely stay idle.

In such a situation, often the unproductive cattle are chased away from the farm and forced to live like stray animals, although this is forbidden by law.

The government, municipalities as well as community-based welfare organizations have been providing shelters for the stray cows at places and imposing penalties on the owners for abandoning the cows.

However, these cow shelters lack sufficient fodder and potable water, space, veterinary supports and other necessary facilities. Given the people’s sentiments, law and regulations, the cattle even after productive life should be protected, and minimum care should be provided, not abandoned. But it reported that during the period of 2012- 2015, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City alone had rounded up 1,200 abandoned cattle, which were auctioned off.

Recent, studies reveal that rearing unproductive cattle, especially for manure and later for their by-products -skin and bons- could be highly profitable. Cow dung, is a cheap and easily available bio-resource for agricultural use. It is a major source for the production of bio-gas in Nepal.

If all the dung produced by cows and buffaloes is used as manure, Nepal will not need to import urea. If the dung and urine are collected systematically and well managed, there is enough money to be made.  

For example, on average an adult cow gives 5,475 kilos of dung and 1,460 litres of urine per year; which is equivalent to 2,956 kilos of nitrogen.

This nitrogen can be converted into 6,500 kilos of urea fertiliser, which based on the existing market price is worth Rs 97,500. If the disposal price of each unproductive cattle is  Rs 5000/each and fodder and management cost an extra 40000/, still the rearing of an old unproductive cow or bull could give a profit of Rs 50000 a year.

More importantly, commercial harvesting of urine and dung for religious purposes could be a potential enterprise in managing the unproductive cattle.

For example, the urine obtained from indigenous cows is considered holly and said to have medicinal value in Ayurved.

 Some entrepreneurs are starting to bottle cow urine for marketing locally as well as in international market. Similarly, the cow dung is required for the religious rituals

Another option to manage the unproductive cattle is to establish cow sanctuaries, similar to protected wildlife areas, where they can roam freely. Such a cattle sanctuaries could be fused with a vulture restaurant, where the carcass could serve as a food for the birds and other wild carnivorous.

Since unproductive cattle are an economic burden to the farmers, the government should establish cow shelters in every municipalities to protect their rights and use their waste to promote organic farming.