Cattle breeding farms to be set up

By Ananda Kannangara

The Livestock Development Ministry (LDM) will initiate a program from next year to encourage countrywide cattle farmers to set up additional cattle breeding farms to develop liquid milk production.

"At present there are over 45 cattle breeding farms in the country including the Northern and Eastern districts and our objective is to encourage cattle farmers in other areas to produce liquid milk, where the LDM has so far not focused attention to set up breeding farms," Livestock Development Minister R. M. C. B. Ratnayake told the `Sunday Observer'.

He said a cattle farmer who owns over 15 cows will be given Rs. 100,000 to start a breeding farm and the calves will be purchased by LDM.

He said that cattle farmers could get information about the program from the nearest Milco agent or the Provincial Council.

Minister Ratnayake said that it was encouraging to see people changed their attitudes on the use of liquid cow milk when the current milk powder prices are increasing due to the shortage in the world market.

"We have now identified several districts in the country, such as Kalutara, Avissawella, Kegalle, Kandy and Hambantota where the climate conditions are suitable and grass lands are available to setup large cattle breeding farms".

He said the LDM owns 30 cattle farms two of its farms, in Ambewela and the Nuwara Eliya New Zealand farm are now managed by the private sector.

"We produce over 250,000 litres of cow milk per day and our objective is to increase the production by another 80 per cent from next year to meet the country's milk requirement," the Minister added.