Social stigma is attached to culling of animals

“The people in the villages who rear livestock will be allowed to slaughter animals whenever the numbers increase,” said a livestock department official, adding that it would be easier for them to manage that required number of animals.

This would also reduce the pressure of overgrazing felt across the country.

So far, most livestock products have been brought in from neighbouring Indian states. “Bhutan has the potential to increase livestock production to meet the increasing demands”, said the leader of the EU Technical Assistance Team, Dr. Leonard Reynolds.

According to the Chief Vetinary Officer of the livestock department, Dr. Karma Tenzing, there has always been a conflict between slaughtering livestock as it goes against religious values. “This has been holding back the people in the rural communities from earning additional income apart from their farm produce,” he said.

For people rearing cattle in the higher altitudes, finding fodder for their animals is seen as a major problem with pastureland becoming scarce and with growing grazing pressure from increasing cattle.

“Therefore, to lessen the pressure on environment and for the monetary benefit of farmers, slaughter of cattle, if there are too many, should be allowed,” he added.

To suite the Buddhist sentiments, livestock officials feel that a more humane and faster method of slaughtering could be introduced.

“In few placeslike Gasa and Haa where yak slaughter is predominant, people can use stun guns to kill animals without much pain,” said Dr. Karma.

The livestock department’s national project coordinator, Dr. Tashi Samdup, pointed out that there was social stigma attached to the culling of animals. But, he said that when farmers kept huge stock of animals, especially those that could not produce milk or other products, it became a burden for them and a threat to the environment from overgrazing.

“The project will also look at marketing and quality of meat products by improving hygiene and avoiding blood and mess, a common and unpleasant sight in local meat stalls,” said Dr. Karma Tenzing.

Dr. Tashi Samdrup said that they would encourage pooling of products to increase product volume as a collective marketing strategy.

As unemployment figures increase livestock officials hope that commercial livestock rearing becomes a safety net by generating employment and increasing economic opportunity.

A workshop was conducted from December 13 to 15 at Paro to review the five-year nationwide Livestock Development Project with a budget of 6.565 million Euros, of which 1.965 million Euros is financed by the government.

The workshop emphasised the need to develop and promote farmer’s cooperatives with a special focus on marketing to reduce overhead costs and to ensure that meat and other livestock products are processed in a hygienic manner to protect consumers’ health and promote the image of livestock products.

A total of 50 participants from different livestock centres and Dzongkhags attended the workshop.

The European Union (EU) supported livestock project was launched last month by the livestock department under Ministry of Agriculture, to increase rural income by supporting livestock development.

By Passang Norbu
passa@kuensel.com.bt