Rs 4.64-cr project approved to preserve Himachali Pahari cow breed

Our Correspondent

Una, August 13

The Union Government has cleared the decks for launching a project aimed at protection and propagation of indigenous Himachali Pahari cow breed. A sum of about Rs 4.64 crore will be funded by the Union Government for the three-year project.

Himachali Pahari is draught cow breed of the state, locally known as Pahari, Gauri and Himdhenu. The breeding tracts mainly include Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Lahul and Spiti districts of the state.

In an official press release, Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar today said the Indian Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, declared the Pahari as an indigenous breed and the Union Government had agreed to fund the project.

Kanwar said about 7.59 lakh cows, which account for about 42 per cent of the total cows in the state, belong to the Pahari breed, having a share of 10.73 per cent in the total milk yeild. The minister said the project would be set up at the Animal Breeding Centre in Bagthan village of Sirmaur, the native village of Dr YS Parmar, the first CM of the state.