Friday, November 15, 2013


The details regarding the livestock population of India and Kerala as per 2007 census (18th quinquennial census of 2007)

Friday, August 2, 2013


Biogas is that gas which is produced by the microbial degradation of organic matter.The biogas produced during anaerobic process is higher in quantity and is often harvested especially from animal farms. Biogas is a mixture of gases of which the major gases are methane and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen sulphide, moisture etc are also present in biogas. Biogas is sometimes also called marsh gas, since it is produced in marshes too. Methane the main content of biogas is responsible for global warming and traps 21 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Biogas can be produced utilizing organic wastes with the help of structures called biogas plants. There are two main types the Fixed dome type of biogas plant and the Floating dome type biogas plantBiogas produced from the biogas plant can be directly used for cooking or can be purified and used to run a generator to generate electricity.










   Gas rising from a slurry pit.












Biogas Plant-Floating dome

useful links
http://www.indg.in/india
http://www.mnre.gov.in/related-links/offgrid/biogas-2/
    http://www.fao.org/alc/file/media/pubs/2011/manual_biogas.pdf


Thursday, August 2, 2012

     
                                            A woman collecting grass from fallow land

                                  An elderly man collecting weeds and wines in a wheel barrow for his cow


                                        A woman on her way back from selling milk taking home what she could find

A Autorikshaw and farmer getting fodder from the roadside
Fodder and feed accounts to about 60% of cost of dairy farming. The average kerala (Indian) farmer finds local weeds as one of the most important source of feed for his cattle. There is a question of quality, toxicity and efficiency of the same.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Breeds of goat from Kerala
There are two breeds of goat from Kerala, they are the Malabari or Tellichery and Attapadi black. Malabari comes in various colours and usually give birth to twins and triplets. Attapadi black goat is mainly by the tribals in Attapadi.
Malabari goat



Attapadi black


Vechur Cattle
This is a native breed of cattle from Kerala and is the smallest breed in the world.


Cross Bred Jersey Cattle from Kerala
Cross breeding in cattle had begun as a policy decision from the 1970's utilizing semen of exotic breeds like Brown swiss, Jersey and Holstein Friesan , resulting in conversion of majority of the desi cattle into crossbreds called Sunandini. Due to absence of proper record keeping the envisaged result has not been achieved.


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Some important diseases of goat


Polioencephalomalacia (PEM)
Ethiology : Thiamin (B1) vitamin deficiency. It may either be due to the a)destruction of ruminal microflora as in acidosis with the increase in thiaminase producing bacteria (which produce thiaminase which destroy's thiamin) b) Ingestion of bacteria, plants etc containing thiaminase enzyme (eg bracken fern) c) Increase intake of sulphur containing water or sulpur rich plants.
Pathogenesis : Inflamation of the brain resulting in convulsions, paralysis towards one side etc\
Treatment : Thiamin containing preparations, Medications to relieve the brain oedema.

Hi for those from South India you are in time with me

Mumbai