The Punjab government today said it has launched an extensive mission to develop pure breed of the 'Sahiwal' cattle under the Gokul Gram Yojna to ensure better milk production in the state.
Stating this, Animal Husbandry Minister Punjab Gulzar Singh Ranilke said Sahiwal breed was considered to be among the best breeds in cattle in Punjab before Indo-Pak partition.
Punjab government was determined not only to protect this indigenous cow breed but also to increase the number of these cows, he said.
Divulging statistical details on this, the Minister said as per the livestock census of 2012, there are about 38,446 Sahiwal breed of cows are left in Punjab.
Taking it as a mission, the Punjab government has launched a number of schemes aimed at increasing the number of such cattle.
Punjab government has already worked out the modalities of setting up of the 'Gokul Gram' in the state in which about 600high-genetic breed of Sahiwal cows would be housed and this would be further developed with highly
scientific techniques so that the milk production could also be increased subsequently.
The National Gokul Yojna was being implemented in the entire state and under this scheme. Another hi-tech Bull Mother Farm has been set up under the Rashtriya Krishi Scientific Yojna at Village Rauni in district Patiala.
Under this scheme, the Animal Husbandry department would identify and buy the Sahiwal Cows producing more milk.
To encourage cattle farmers rearing Sahiwal Cows, the Punjab government would honour them with cash award besides giving them certificates.
