KOZHIKODE: Kotoor gram panchayat has launched an initiative to make dairy farming thoroughly scientific and hygienic, thereby upgrading the quality of milk and public health. The ‘Mission Safe Milk Kotoor’ project has been piloted for 150 dairy farmers under the Avidanallur Dairy Producers’ Cooperative Society, aiming at scientifically coordinating all farming activities and ensuring hygiene at each level.
“The quality of milk has been affected by a minor lapse. Lack of hygiene at cattle sheds, non-hygiene of the milking man, non-cleanliness of milking utensils and diseases of the cow are to be taken care of. Unchecked grazing of cows has resulted in the animal eating a particular grass which has been found unhealthy for milk consumers. The project envisions complete overhaul of the system,” explains Dr Bineesh P.P., the vet at Kotoor veterinary dispensary.
A portable milk parlour would be set in the cattle shed of each farmer which prevents dust falling from the roof and resists mosquito and fly bites while milking. The project of animal husbandry department offers Rs 3000 worth benefits to each farmer by providing accessories like a head cap, face mask, glow, apron, dairy detergent, chlorine medical tablets and mastitis kits. Separate detergent has been ordered from Pune under the advice of Milma to clean the milking utensils. “Currently, farmers are undergoing training,” he said.
The project is being strictly monitored under veterinary hospital through farmers’ clusters. The vet would have precise knowledge about the antibiotics given to a cow so that the number of days the milk of such cows not used could be correctly assessed. “The project is a boon to dairy farmers to keep the milk quality and get more yield,” says A. Divakaran, president of the cooperative society.
