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Animal Welfare Board of India wants Code of Practices for dairy animals
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Wednesday, 06 May, 2015, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory body of the Government of India, has issued an advisory to all state governments recommending the National Code of Practices for Management of Dairy Animals in India.
Maj Gen (Retd) Dr R M Kharb, chairman, AWBI, has requested all state governments to introduce and implement the Code of Practices, as a parameter and reference for dairy cattle management in India.
The Code of Practices has been developed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in association with World Animal Protection, to help improve the welfare of over 50 million dairy animals in commercial facilities across the country.
Dairy animals raised humanely are healthier and more productive. Yet, as demand for milk increases, more and more cows and buffaloes are at risk of suffering painful health problems and shorter lifespans due to over breeding, poor housing, confinement and over medication. The AWBI’s advisory recommends the Code of Practices as a comprehensive publication with advice on breeding, husbandry practices and guidelines for feed, shelter and housing. As such, it can help to ensure humane and sustainable agriculture practices for high welfare milk production.
The AWBI has specified that all cattle premises in the state must be registered according to the Registration of Cattle Premises Rules, 1978, under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. And while registering and during inspections, the “National Code of Practices of Management of Dairy Animals in India” should be used as guidelines to ensure welfare of dairy animals.
In addition, the AWBI has requested that the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Department of India encourage and ensure welfare of cattle, including training to implement the recommendations of the Code of Practices across the country.
The President of the Veterinary Council has been asked by the AWBI to introduce the Code of Practices to the veterinary curriculum and to ensure veterinary students are equipped to implement its practices.
Gajender Sharma, country director, World Animal Protection, said: “This is a significant step to improving the lives of millions of dairy animals in India. Through our partnership with the NDRI and the endorsement of the Code of Practices by the AWBI, we are helping India’s dairy farmers to adopt better animal husbandry practices, to increase milk production and quality, while protecting animals.”
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