" The Greatness of a Nation can be Judged by the way it's Animals are treated"- Mahatma Gandhi

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT
WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT

West Godavari District which is located on the Eastern coast of Andhra Pradesh is popularly known as Rice Granary of the State having a total geographical area of 7780 Sq. K.Ms with 37,96,144 population.
There are Small farmers - 77,648, Marginal Farmers – 3,13,410, Agricultural labourers – 8,06,226 who are involved in Animal Husbandry practice which occupies second position to agriculture in economic upliftment of rural people of the District.
To render Veterinary aid and breeding aspects to the livestock available in the District, 4 Assistant Directors (AH) in-charge of the Divisions are functioning and the Joint Director (AH) is the overall supervising authority both for Administrative and Technical purposes.

LIVESTOCK POPULATION (in LAKHS)  

  • Cattle - 1.77
  • Buffaloes - 5.54
  • Sheep & Goat - 2.87
  • Others - 0.14
  • Poultry - 73.78

DEPARTMENTAL VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS FUNCTIONING

  • State Institute of Animal Health, Tanuku - 1
  • Veterinary Hospitals - 11
  • Veterinary Dispensaries - 84
  • Rural Livestock Units - 103
  • Gopalamitra Centres - 86

In addition to the above Veterinary Institutions, the following categories of the other institutions are also functioning to implement the Animal Husbandry programmes in the District.

State Institute of Animal Health, TANUKU

It was established with subject matter specialists and well experienced technical staff specialised in Surgery, Gynecology and Veterinary Medicine. This institution is also attending to the major surgical cases being referred from other field institutions within and outside the District also. Besides this, the Institution is also attending to the post-mortem of poultry, culture and anti-biotic sensitivity tests to diagnose the poultry diseases in and around Tanuku, which is having approximately 60 lakhs of Poultry population.


ANIMAL HEALTH CENTRE :ELURU

Located at Eluru is being headed by an Assistant Director(AH) and looking after the following activities:

  • To investigate and confirm both Contageous and non-Contageous diseases
  • To examine the specimens being sent from the field and communication of results from time to time
  • To indent the vaccine required for the District from the VBRI, Hyderabad and Poultry Viral Vaccine Centre, Samarlakot for supply to the field units
  • To impart short-term Training to Departmental personnel and farmers
  • Epidemiological study of the District in respect of all major diseases, their incidence, prevalence and planning to their prophylaxis programme.

PROGENY TESTING PROGRAMME
In order to estimate the genetic improvement of the progeny for future generations, selective pedigreed bull semen is being used in the Scheme and the female calves born will be watched and compared with their dams milk yield on the para-meters like breed development, growth rate, age of maturity, calving and milk yield etc. 70 Artificial Insemination Centres are selected , 38 in West Godavari District and 32 in Krishna District for supply of the pedigreed bull semen under the supervision of the Assistant Director(Stat) with Headquarters at Gannavaram of Krishna District.

CENTRALISED SEMEN COLLECTION CENTRE:TADEPALLIGUDEM
The objective is to supply Frozen semen and Liquid nitrozen to field A.I.Centres and a total of 2.55 lakh inseminations are being done per annum and producing 90 thousand genetically improved calves per annum.

PIG BREEDING STATION: GOPANNAPALEM
Main objective is to supply high pedigreed Exotic Boars to improve the local non-descriptive pigs. Yark-Shire breed of pigs are being maintained and supply to the Weaker section people to develop Piggery Units and thereby to uplift their economical status and also to supply quality Pork to the consumers.

G O P A L A M I T R A S C H E M E
To render artificial inseminations and livestock developmental activities at the door-step of the farmers, the West Godavari Livestock Development Association( A L D A ) was registered. Under this 100 Stationary Departmental Artificial Insemination centres were converted as Mobile Centres. Further, 105 Gopala Mitra centres were identified to cover 100% breedable population, out of which 86 Gopalamitras are functioning and earning their livelihood through this scheme.

INSTALLATION OF THE TREVIES IN VILLAGES
With the objective to render better Livestock Developmental activities at village level, it is proposed to provide Tubular Iron Trevies in all (887) Gram Panchayats of West Godavari District.

  • Number of Gram Panchayats in the District : 887
  • Number of Trevies available with Deptl. Institutions : 199
  • Trevies available with Milk societies : 87
  • Villages to be provided with Trevies facility : 601
  • No of Trevieses installed on 50% Subsidy basis : 443
  • Villages still to be provided with Trevies facility : 158

As the financial position in Tribal areas is meagre, it is proposed to provide 33 Trevies in uncovered Gram Panchayats in Agency area with 80% Grant from DRDA funds and balance 20% from ITDA Funds.

PROVISION OF CHAFF CUTTERS
In order to reduce the fodder wastage and to improve milk production in the animals, as a Drought Relief Measure – 550 Dual Operated Chaff Cutters and 110 Power Operated Chaff Cutters on subsidy have been distributed and are being used by the farmers.

COMMUNITY WATER TROUGHS FOR CATTLE
As a Drought Relief Measure – 650 Community Water Troughs have been constructed and clean drinking water is being made available in the troughs for cattle in rural areas.