Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 21: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (DAH&VS), in collaboration with UT-ATMA, organized four farmer-field demonstrations under the jurisdiction of Veterinary Hospital (VH), Campbell Bay, on Brooder Management, Dairy Farm Waste Management, and Preparation & Cultivation of Azolla.
The demonstration on Brooder Management of poultry chicks was conducted at the field of Ms. Mamta Adhikari, D/o Mr. Arabind Bala, Gandhi Nagar. The demonstrations on Dairy Farm Waste Management were conducted at the fields of Mr. Ayyappan, S/o Mr. Sreenivasan, Gandhi Nagar, and Mr. Man Singh Rawat, S/o Mr. Murat Singh Rawat, Shastri Nagar. The demonstration on Preparation and Cultivation of Azolla was conducted at the field of Mr. P. Thiru Ganesan, S/o Mr. K. Pitchai.
The demonstrations were aimed at creating awareness among farmers about simple, scientific and cost-effective technologies that can be adopted at the farm level to improve livestock and poultry productivity, reduce input costs and promote sustainable farming practices.
The Brooder Management demonstration highlighted the importance of proper care and management of newly hatched poultry chicks in the absence of the mother bird. Proper brooding provides chicks with adequate warmth, ventilation, feed and drinking water during the critical early stages of life. Scientific brooding practices help reduce chick mortality, promote healthy growth and improve the overall performance of poultry birds.
The Dairy Farm Waste Management demonstrations focused on the productive utilization of cattle dung and other farm waste instead of allowing them to become a source of environmental pollution. Farmers were sensitized on the potential use of cow dung for biogas production, preparation of vermicompost and organic manure, and other agricultural activities. Such practices can help farmers convert farm waste into useful resources, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and provide additional economic benefits.
The Preparation and Cultivation of Azolla demonstration introduced farmers to Azolla as a nutritious and economical supplementary feed for livestock. Azolla can be cultivated with relatively low investment and can provide a readily available source of nutrients when incorporated appropriately into livestock feeding practices. Its cultivation can help reduce feed costs, supplement the nutritional requirements of livestock and support better growth, health and milk production.
Through these demonstrations, the Department aims to promote technology transfer, sustainable livestock farming and adoption of improved management practices among farmers of Campbell Bay. The initiative also seeks to encourage farmers to make better use of locally available resources and adopt practical technologies for improving farm productivity and income.
