Showing the way towards better bovine care
GORAKHPUR: A cowshed at Maharajganj’s Ghughli gram panchayat is showing the way on how to care for animals in a cow shelter.
This when five officials, including the then district magistrate, recently faced the heat for irregularities at a cowshed at nearby Madhwalia in the same district. On October 14, the Yogi government had suspended five officials including DM Amarnath Upadhyay for large-scale irregularities at Madhwalia Gau Sadan. The action followed reports that only 900 cows were found during inspection as against a reported strength of 2,500, chief secretary RK Tiwari had told a press conference in Lucknow. It was alleged that many cows had also died here due to negligence.
In stark contrast, Ghughli gram panchayat cowshed presents a perfect picture of bovine care with a number of facilities being introduced here. Power back-up, regular fogging drives, CCTVs for 24-hour monitoring by officials, beautification of the premises by planting saplings and walls painted with messages on the importance of the cow in Hindu religion and environment conservation.
Feeding a nutritious diet comprising jaggery and green fodder is what the authorities claimed to have improved the health of cows in past few months. The cow shelter or Kanha Upwan came up in May this year at a cost of Rs 1.71 crore, and initially, two destitute cows and 15 calves were brought here from outside in weak condition, executive officer Lave Kumar Mishra said.
“For cows, there is an arrangement of shade with fours fans which operate through an inverter to keep them cool even when the power goes. The cowshed which has a capacity of 25 cows, also has a nine-room building in which doctors and other staff can stay. The health of the cows is examined regularly by a veterinary officer.
“Health records are maintained in registers. Besides, there are separate registers for attendance of employees, stock and use of fodder, donations and the deaths. There are three employees on eight-hour shifts each while the campus has been beautified so that it leaves a good impression on visitors. No employee can leave before his reliever arrives to take charge. No deaths have occurred since operations began at the cowshed,” Mishra said.
He said that the diet of the cows consists of 250 gms of jaggery, 10-15gms of salts, 250-400 gms choker.
Currently, the cowshed houses three cows and 14 calves and an amount of Rs 30 is spent on the diet of each animal daily.