Government to use sugarcane as cattle fodder in drought-hit regions

Government to use sugarcane as cattle fodder in drought-hit regions

Pandurang MhaskeUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 10:45 PM IST
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Mumbai :  Even as the government contemplates the use of sugarcane as fodder for cattle in drought-hit areas instead of using it to extract sugar, experts fears that this nutritious but carbohydrate-rich food may have more adverse affects than good on the animal.

With the drought-affected regions of Maharashtra facing acute shortage of water and fodder for cattle, the state government has decided to import sugarcane in bulk quantities from the neighboring state of Karnataka. The government plans to use it as fodder instead of using it to extract sugar.

Veterinary doctors say that feeding cattle only sugarcane is not recommended. “Normally the big animals never show symptoms of diabetes, while smaller animals such as cats and dogs can be diagnosed visually if they are diabetic. Sugar cane is highly nutritious but it has the potential to harm the animals if fed for long. Generally, diabetes in cattle would amount to damage to the pancreas. In a cattle farm, it will be very difficult to identify such animals and treat them,” said a veterinary doctor from Mumbai.

Another veterinary nutrition expert said: “Cattle’s physiology is generally capable of digesting all that they eat. But­­­­­ feeding only sugar cane may have adverse effects. Sugarcane has very high amounts of carbohydrates, fibers and sugar. Farmers do use sugar cane as fodder but it is used in combination with other subsidiary food.”

When about the same, Secretary of animal husbandry department of state Mahesh Pathak said: “I have no idea about it, but today the priority is saving the animals. For their survival, we have to feed them and if sugar cane is the available food, it will be used.”

“This situation has come about due to because of deficient rainfall and remunerative price offered by fodder contractors to cane farmers. Sugarcane is easily available to farmers and also for the government cattle farms,” said an official from the agriculture department of state.

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