Adil Lateef
Srinagar, July 30: J&K has recorded decreasing trend in production of wool, mutton and milk in last six years as Sheep Husbandry Department has failed to achieve its stated objectives of improving the stock of livestock, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said in its latest report.
Audit found that the Sheep Husbandry Department could not achieve its stated objectives of improving the stock of livestock in the State and of augmenting production of milk, wool and mutton. “The shortfall in production of rams and bucks with reference to projected requirements ranged between 76 to 97 percent while there was excess mortality rate of 10 to 18 percent in six sheep breeding farms,” the CAG stated.
Audit found that there was decreasing trend in yield of wool, mutton and milk during the period 2011-12 to 2015-16. The departmental authorities attributed the deficiencies and shortfalls to lack of requisite infrastructure, climatic variations and inbreeding. “Yet, steps to mitigate the situation and address the shortcomings were not evident and the unutilised funds increased from Rs 7.38 lakh in 2011-12 to Rs 98.58 lakh in 2015-16,” it said.
Sheep breeding farms were established by the State Government with the objective of producing a good quality germ plasm in addition to enhancing the production of wool and mutton. Audit noticed that the breeding farms had not been able to achieve the intended objectives. According to norms, the average wool yield per sheep per year should range between 2.5 kg and 3 kg.
Audit noticed decreasing trend in average wool yield per year which ranged between 1.930 kg and 2.480 kg in Jammu division and between 1.064 kg and 1.96 kg in Kashmir division during the period 2011-12 to 2015-16 in seven test-checked sheep breeding Farms. “This resulted in non-achievement of the objective to improve wool production,” audit observed.
As per norms, with regard to mutton, the desired body weight in respect of sheep and goat on attaining age of one year is 25-30 kgs. The CAG said that test-check of records showed that animals which had not attained a sustainable body weight ranged between 38 and 54 percent in Jammu division whereas it ranged between 43 and 78 percent in Kashmir division during 2011-12 to 2015-16.
The CAG stated that departmental norms prescribe a mortality rate not exceeding ten percent in a year for departmental livestock. “Records of seven sheep breeding farms and one dairy goat farm showed that 4,175 animals (Jammu: 1,779; Kashmir: 2,396) had died during the period 2011-12 to 2015-16. Audit noticed excess mortality rate of 10 to 18 per cent in six64 sheep breeding farms,” CAG said.
Audit further noticed that pneumonia was the cause for maximum (1,176) deaths among the animals followed by enteritis (965). The test-checked farms lacked required infrastructure such as housing, heating arrangement and hygienic conditions responsible for high mortality, the CAG said.
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