After becoming almost defunct a decade ago, efforts to revive the Tang Community Welfare Association Dairy Farm, or the Wobthang Dairy Farm of Tang Gewog in Bumthang, are now on track.
Agriculture ministry took over the farm for two years from 2009 to 2010 to get it back into shape.
The farm, however, is faced with challenges of raising Jersey calves in cold-weather conditions and wild animals preying on its herd among other issues.
The farm currently has a herd of sixty-nine cattle of which most are predominantly Jersey pure breed. All these calves are bred through Artificial Insemination, which are of mostly pure jersey and cross jersey semen.
According to the farm manager, raising such calves is difficult in cold climatic conditions. The farm lost about sixteen calves to Foot and Mouth Disease in 2015.
“The government’s policy is to raise Jersey pure breeds but the calves become susceptible to diseases when we have to raise 100 per cent jersey breed,” Choni Dorji,the farm manager said.
“Moreover, our farm is located on a high altitude area and livestock officials suspect pneumonia to be affecting the calves. They get diseased easily and suffer from diarrhoea. Once infected, it’s difficult to recover their health.”
Also, the farm’s pastureland is destroyed by marauding wild boars. The farm has an area of about 1,350 acres of which 115 are cultivated as grassland.
Therefore, due to its vastness, the farm is a usual roaming ground for wild boars. Moreover, as the farm is in a secluded place, wild animals also prey on the herd. It is located about 15 Kilometers away from proper Tang valley.
“Our grazing land is quite far from our quarters. So, when herders come for lunch break or take breakfast, the wolves target our cows. Once attacked, there is no chance of saving them. We lose about two to three cows to wolves every year,” Choni Dorji added.
The farm was initially established by Helvetas, a Swiss development organisation, 20 years ago.
The people of Tang Gewog currently own the farm after His Majesty the Fourth King granted the farm and it’s land to them.
The association has 280 members. Income generated from the sale of milk is deposited in Gewog’s bank account.
The Tang Gewog Livestock Extension Office assists the farm with fodder seed distribution, medical supervision of the cattle and breeding processes.
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