KATHMANDU: Although the total number of cow and buffalo in the country is put at 7 million and 3.6 million respectively, but only a small percentage of them are milking at any given time. “Only about 12 per cent of the cows and 26 per cent of the buffaloes are giving milk at any time,” according to the statistics of the livestock situation published by the Department of Livestock Services.

The total number of cattle has decreased by about 40,000 but that of the buffalos has increased by 98,000 from the fiscal years 1999/2000 to 2000/2001.

The Department cites the decrease in the number of cattle to insufficient artificial insemination programme, lack of exotic-breed distribution programme and other supporting livestock services. However, the increase in the number of buffaloes was mainly because they need less care than the cows.

The number of milking cows and milking buffalos has, however, increased by about 12,000 and 26,000 respectively during the same period.

Livestock contributes 18 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, and dairy products contribute 6 per cent to the gross agriculture domestic products.

The total production of milk in the fiscal year 2000/01 was 1.12 million metric tons, and 200,000 litres milk are been consumed everyday in the country. Half per cent of them in Kathmandu Valley, Sherchand said.

But the milking capacity of Nepalese cows is much less. They give only about two litres of milk a day. But Sherchand says, after the improvement of breeding through artificial insemination they can give more than eight litres per day, he said, adding that such improved calf can reproduce and give milk in three years time.

Laxman Sherchand, an official at the breeding section of the Department told The Rising Nepal that the number of high-yielding dairy cow has increased by about four per cent till April this year.

Similarly, the traditional variety of buffaloes give about 3-4 liters per day but the improved breeds can give milk up to 8 liters, he said.

According to the data, the country’s milk production increased by 2.48 in the fiscal years 2000/01 than in the previous year. The total production of milk that year was 1.12 million tons. Of them, the cow milk was 342,000 tons and that of the buffalo was 781,000 tons.

The quality of milk production depends on breeding, management of the cattle, nutrition and animal health and extension, said Shyam Sundar Yadav, another official at the Department, adding the amount of milk produced depends on the livestock extension programme.

The consumption per person per year is 8 per cent less than the prescribed for normal nutrition. A person needs 57 litres of milk annually.

The buffalo milk contains seven percent where as the cow milk contains only 4.5 per cent fat. But during pasturisation, milk fats are extracted and the diary milks contain only about 3 per cent of fat.