For expression of the production potentiality of our livestock, availability of nutritious feed and fodder is essential. To facilitate fodder availability, seven regional stations have been established in different agro-climatic zones for production of high yielding varieties of fodder/fodder seed and transfer of scientific fodder production technology through training of field officers, demonstration of latest fodder agronomy practices and organisation of farmer training/fair. During 2004-05, these stations produced 199.54 MT of fodder seeds and conducted 3862 field demonstrations of new fodder varieties.

A Central fodder seed production farm located at Hessarghatta (Karnataka) produced 76 MT seeds of different varieties of fodder grasses/legumes seeds during 2005-06 and conducted 540 field demonstrations of new fodder varieties. A Central mini kit demonstration programme of fodder crops is under implementation for popularising high yielding fodder varieties on a large-scale. During 2005-06, 3.54 lakh mini kits were allotted to the States for distribution to farmers free of cost. Besides, a Centrally Sponsored Fodder Development Scheme is being implemented from 2005-06 for establishment of Fodder Block making units, Grassland development with grass reserves, fodder seed production and biotechnology research.

During 2005-06, financial assistance of Rs 1162.39 lakh has been provided to 15 States.

• Livestock Health
  
  

  Animal wealth in India has increased manifold and presently the Animal Husbandry practices have also been changed to a great extent. Due to the liberalisation of trade after the advent of the WTO’s SPS agreement, the chances of ingress of exotic diseases into the country have increased. With the improvement in the quality of livestock through launching of extensive cross breeding programmes, the susceptibility of these livestock to various diseases including exotic diseases has increased. For ensuring the maintenance of disease-free status and to be compatible with the standards led by the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), Major Health Schemes have been initiated to support the animal health programmes in the State.

  In order to reduce morbidity and mortality, efforts are being made by the State/Union Territory Governments to provide better health care through Polyclinics/Veterinary Hospitals/Dispensaries/First-Aid Centres including mobile veterinary dispensaries. A network of 26540 Polyclinics/Hospitals/ Dispensaries and 25433 Veterinary aid Centres (including Stockmen Centres/ Mobile Dispensaries), supported by about 250 Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, are functioning in the States and Union Territories for quick and reliable diagnosis of diseases. Further, for control of major livestock and poultry diseases by way of prophylactic vaccination, the required quantity of vaccines are produced in the country at 29 veterinary vaccine production units. Of these, 22 are in the public sector and 7 are in private sector. Import of vaccines by private agencies is also permitted as and when required.

  1. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services: The objective of this service is to prevent ingress of livestock diseases into India by regulating the import of livestock and livestock related products, and providing export certification of International Standards for livestock and livestock products which are exported from India. There are four existing Stations for Animal Quarantine and Certification Service one each in New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.
     
     
  2. National Veterinary Biological Products Quality Control Centre :At present the Indian Veterinary Research Institute has been assisting in the task of monitoring the quality of vaccines and biologicals. But in order to obtain better monitoring of the quality, it is essential to establish a separate Institute. For this purpose, it has been decided to set up National Veterinary Biological Quality Control Centre (National Institute of Animal Health) at Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh at the end of 9th Plan for which land has been acquired and construction work is in its final stage.
     
     
  3. Central/Regional Discase Diagnostic Laboratories :In order to provide referral services over and above the existing disease diagnostic laboratories in the States, one Central and five Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories have been set up by strengthening the existing facilities. The Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis (CADRAD) of Indian Veterinary Research institute, Izatnagar is functioning as Central Laboratory. The Disease Investigation Laboratory, Pune, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Kolkata, Institute of Animal Heath and Biologicals, Bangalore, Animal Health Institute, Jallandhar and Institute of Veterinary Biological, Khanapara, Guwahati are functioning as referral laboratories for Western, Eastern, and Southern, Northern and North-Eastern regions, respectively.
     
     
  4. Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) :In order to control the economically important livestock diseases and to undertake the obligatory functions related to the Animal Health into the country, the Government of India is implementing ‘‘Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC)’’ with the following components.
     
     
     1. Assistance to states for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) :Under this component, assistance is provided to State/Union Territory Governments for control of economically important diseases of livestock and poultry by way of immunisation, strengthening of existing State Veterinary Biological Production Units, strengthening of existing Disease Diagnostic Laboratories and in-service training to Veterinarians and Para-veterinarians. Besides this the programme envisaged collection of information on the incidence of various livestock and poultry diseases from States and Union Territories and complying the same for the whole country. The information so compiled is disseminated in the form of Monthly Animal Disease Surveillance Bulletin to all States and Union Territories and also Organisations like Office International Des Epizoites (OIE), Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and Pacific (APHCA), etc. This information system has been harmonised in accordance with the guidelines of OIE.
        
        
     2. National Project on Rinderpest Eradication (NPRE) :The main objective of the project is to eradicate Rinderpest and Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) by strengthening the veterinary services across the country and to obtain freedom from Rinderpest and CBPP infection following the pathway prescribed by Office International des Epizooties (OIE), Paris.
        
        Country attarns "Freedom from Kinderpest Infection”:
        • The first stage of "Provisional freedom form Kiderpcs; disease" for the whole country was achieved with effect from 1 March 1998.
        • The second stage "Freedom form Kinderpest discase" for the country has been attained with effect from 22 May 2004.
        • The third stage and final stage of "Freedom from Kiderpest infection" for the country has been achieved with effect from 25 May 2006
        • Contagious Bevine Pleuro Pneunonia (CBPP): The country is provisionally free from CBPP from October 2003. The dossier for seeking freedom from "contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneamonia" (CBPP) infection has been submitted to OIE.
          
          
     3. Foot & Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMDCP):‘‘Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme’’ is being implemented in 54 specified districts in the country to control the Foot and Mouth Disease. This involves 6 monthly vaccinations of susceptible livestock against FMD. Four rounds of vaccination have been completed. About 28 million vaccinations are conducted in every round.
        
        
     4. Avian Influenza / Bird Flu: The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) commonly known as Bird Flu was reported during January 2004 in South East Asian Countries. Since, then the Department has initiated steps to ensure that there is no ingress of avian influenza from the affected countries by banning the import of live poultry and poultry products. Vigilance exercised in all bordering States with the help of the State Animal Husbandry Departments and active surveillance conducted by collecting serum samples of poultry randomly from different parts of the country to rule out the possibility of infection.
        
        

        Guidelines issued earlier on this matter were again circulated to the States for immediate action. The Chief Secretaries of all the States were requested to continue the vigilance against this disease and activate the State Animal Disease Emergency Committee (SADEC) to be in preparedness in the event of any outbreak. The Department also prepared a contingency plan for HPAI. The contingency plan includes the guidelines for

  5. steps to be taken in case of suspicion outbreak of Avian Influenza
  6. Action Plan in case outbreak of HPAI is confirmed and
  7. Advice to persons handling HPAI affected poultry.
     
     Joint Monitoring Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare including FAO, WHO and the concerned Departments to monitor and keep close watch of the disease. Regular meetings were held to take stock of the situation.
     
     

     The following measures were taken by the Government of India to prevent the access of bird flu into the country.

     • All the State governments were alerted to be vigilant about the outbreak of the disease if any.
     • Import of poultry and poultry products were banned completely from HPAI positive countries.
     • Border check posts with neighboring countries were set up.
     • Custom authorities were instructed not to clear any baggage of livestock/ livestock products without getting it cleared by the quarantine officer first.
     • Guidelines issued to the States for further guidance to the poultry farmers.
     • States have already taken steps for preventing ingress of the disease and control measures.
       
       
  • Outbreak of Avian Influenza in India :The outbreak of Avian Influenza in poultry in India was reported in February 2006. The details of the outbreaks are as follows :
    
    

    First outbreak	Navapur, Uchchal (18.2.06)
    Second outbreak	Jalgaon
    (a) Phase I	14.3.06 (4 sectors in 4 talukas)
    (b) Phase II	28.3.06 (7 sectors in 6 talukas)
    (c) Phase III	04/05.04.06 (14 sectors in 9 talukas)
    (d) Phase IV	18.4.06 (3 sectors in 3 talukas)

    
    

    Outbreaks took place in Navapur/Uchchal of Maharashtra and Gujarat and Jalgaon District of Maharashtra with spill over into Ichhapur in Madhya Pradesh.

  • Control and Containment Measures Initiated by the Government : Necessary control and containment operations were initiated as per the Action Plan prepared by the Government of India and circulated to the State Governments. Control and containment operation were initiated comprising of culling, disinfection and clean up. Culling was carried out within 10 km. radius of the infected place in all the farms and villages. A total of 10, 43,834 birds were culled from the affected areas and the Government has paid the compensation for birds culled in operation. Total of 8545.815 MT of feed and feed ingredients were also destroyed and compensated.
    
    Post operation surveillance was undertaken in outbreak areas over a period of 3 months from completion of operation.