Livestock expo in Jhajjar from tomorrow

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

A three-day-long Third State-Level Livestock Exhibition Fair will be organised in Jhajjar district from December 21 to 23.

As many as 25,000 farmers will be participating in the fair, wherein 1,500 high-breed cattle worth Rs 750 crore will be on display. This was informed by Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister OP Dhankar at a press conference here on Wednesday.

He said Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Parshottam Rupala would inaugurate the fair. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Union Minister of Statefor Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal will be the chief guest on the second and third day, respectively, he added.

Dhankar said 53 categories of cattle, including buffaloes, cows, horses, camels, sheep and goats, would be displayed at the fair. He said the best livestock would be given a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh followed by Rs 1 lakh to the runner-up, besides other prizes of Rs 25,000, Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000 in various categories.

He said the state government had been working to promote indigenous breeds and to bring the state at the top position in terms of milk production. The minister said stalls would be set up in the fair to make farmers and cattle owners aware of different schemes. A milk parlour will also be set up at the exhibition. Apart from this, seminars will be organised to provide information on modern techniques and activities of livestock through specialists in the field of animal husbandry.

Dhankar said a memorandum of understanding had been signed with Brazil to produce high-breed cattle through surrogacy by adopting the embryo technology. He said another pact had been signed with Israel to increase per cattle milk production so that assistance could be sought from them in genetics, temperature control, feed and technology. “Moreover, a centre of excellence is being established at Hisar with Israeli assistance, which would completely change the livestock form,” he added.

1,500 high-breed cattle on display

• As many as 25,000 farmers will be participating in the state-level expo, wherein 1,500 high-breed cattle worth Rs 750 crore will be on display
• In all, 53 categories of cattle, including buffaloes, cows, horses, camels, sheep and goats, will be exhibited during the three-day fair
• The best livestock will be given a cash prize of  Rs 2.5 lakh followed by Rs 1 lakh to the runner-up, besides other prizes of Rs 25,000, Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000 in various categories