Animal welfare panel concerned over mega dairy project
August 12th, 2011 - 1:53 am ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has expressed concerns over the proposed IFFCO Kisan SEZ (IKSEZ) mega dairy project to come up in Andhra Pradesh.
The board has written to the promoters of the mega dairy, planned to come up in the state’s Nellore district, raising questions about the risk to the animals and environment.
“The establishment of mega dairies, as such dairy systems are prone to several environmental and animal welfare risks. Detail of the project has been sought to help AWBI assess the animal welfare implication of the mega dairy,” said an AWBI official.
The official said that a New Zealand-based dairy company Fonterra and an Indian company called Global Dairy Health are developing a mega dairy as part of IFFCO’s SEZ (Special Economic Zone).
“Reports suggest that the consortium will import 9,000 high yielding pregnant cows from New Zealand over a three-year period. There are also plans to import frozen embryos and semen for subsequent breeding,” he added.
Expressing concern over the animals’ health, the official said, “In such mega dairies, cows are mostly kept indoors with little access to natural surroundings. Cows farmed intensively like this are bred to produce unnaturally large amounts of milk which can make them more susceptible to health problems.”
The AWBI intervened in the matter after a request from the Federation of Indian Animals Protection Organisations (FIAPO).
- New Zealand-based Fonterra to establish large-scale dairy farms in India - Nov 12, 2010
- Punjab may have venture with New Zealand's dairy giant - May 23, 2010
- Dairy giant buys Indian pharmaceutical firm - Aug 31, 2011
- Haryana farmers can now own 'imported' calves - Nov 16, 2010
- Stop torture of rats, says PETA - Apr 02, 2012
- 'Punish Thane man for illegally possessing snakes' - Apr 11, 2012
- Meat of cloned cow offspring enters British food chain - Aug 04, 2010
- Mad cow case detected in US - Apr 25, 2012
- Reward announced for information on people involved in dog fighting - May 31, 2012
- Reward for info on dog fights (Lead) - May 31, 2012
- Gujarat cops urged to rethink dog breeding plan - Jul 04, 2010
- British cattle factory to house 8,000 cows - Aug 06, 2010
- Animal Welfare Fortnight 2010 launched - Jan 12, 2010
- US cattle genetics firm to help Punjab dairying - Sep 03, 2010
- Greenpeace attacks New Zealand company for 'climate crime' - Oct 11, 2009
Tags: andhra pradesh, animal welfare board, animals health, awbi, dairies, dairy company, dairy health, dairy project, dairy systems, fonterra, frozen embryos, health problems, iffco, indian animals, natural surroundings, nellore district, pregnant cows, semen, special economic zone, zone reports