Bargur cattle exhibition on April 26

After postponement for nearly a month, the Bargur cattle exhibition, keenly anticipated by rearers on the hills, will take place on April 26.

Animal Husbandry Minister T.K.M. Chinnayya will inaugurate the exhibition in the presence of Environment Minister Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam, senior officials, and the District Collector S. Prabakar, official sources said.

Indefinite postponement of the event scheduled earlier on March 29 was announced in view of the national mourning in honour of Singapore's founding father late Lee Kuan Yew. The rearers have been looking forward to the second edition of the event for which the prize-money has been doubled.

There has been some progress in the proposal for establishment of Bargur Cattle Research Station on the hills. The announcement was made by Mr. Chinnayya at the time of the maiden exhibition during 2014.

The Revenue Department is on the verge of fulfilling the land transfer formalities for handing over 50 acres to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, it is learnt.

Despite the delay in conduct of the event, there is likely to be sufficient participation by the farmers in the exhibition.

If not for the sufficient rainfall this season, the rearers would have taken their herds by now to the forest area bordering Karnataka, local sources said.

Rearers have been motivated by the prize money. The first prize winner for the best breeder will receive Rs. 20,000. Likewise, the second and third prize winners will receive Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively.

There will be two first prizes, four second prizes, and eight third prizes. In all, there will be 13 prizes for cows and same number of prizes for oxen.

Aavin has already registered a milk society for Bargur cattle rearers, to initiate them into generating income through marketing surplus milk.

Casein 2 protein present in the milk of Bargur cows is considered ideal for consumption by people with cardiac problems.

Official sources said selective breeding will be carried out at the Bargur Cattle Research Station to enhance milk yield of the breed. Its dung with high manure content is sought after by nature farmers.