-GovernanceNow.com Banning cattle slaughter, like demonetisation, may deliver political gains but will hit the rural economy hard More than a century ago, a team of officials from Brazil toured some villages of Kheda district, in central Gujarat. They had come to procure breeding bulls of the famous Kankreji breed, notes Bhailal Patel, a charismatic institution-builder who was also the first leader of opposition in Gujarat assembly, in his memoirs. It was of...

-VillageSquare.in The problem of male cattle in India, the world’s largest milk-producing country, remains in limbo even as farmers grapple with latest government regulations that severely restrict cattle trade and culling Alpesh Patel, a small farmer in Mogari village of Anand district in Gujarat, owns three crossbreed female cattle and earns supplemental income by selling milk to the nearest dairy co-operative. He strives to keep his herd efficient for milk production by...

-The Times of India BENGALURU: India may be home to 15% of the global Livestock Population, but its contribution to the global methane emissions by the domesticated animals is only 10.63%, a study by the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP) has revealed. Cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats are the huge contributors to methane emissions. Methane, released primarily by livestock, paddy cultivation, decay of organic waste in landfill sites and...

-The Times of India JAIPUR: In 20th Livestock Census, Rajasthan government for the first time will enumerate breed-wise details of its cattle population to improve progeny of indigenous breeds and enhance milk production. Compilation of breed-wise details will help government in preparing baseline data of cattle, particularly of indigenous breed and help in their conservation. Officials of animal husbandry department claim information gathered will assist them to frame policies and focus on...

-Down to Earth Ammonia concentration in the atmosphere over India is the highest in the world due to cattle population and excessive fertilizer use, says study A satellite study of airborne ammonia gas has revealed four major hotspots over productive agricultural regions across the world. Increased atmospheric ammonia is linked to poor air and water quality. Using data from NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder satellite instrument, researchers led by the University of Maryland...