Panaji: Earlier this week chief minister Pramod Sawant took to twitter to share the news that Goa’s indigenous dairy cow Shweta Kapila has been recognized as a Goan breed by the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
This comes two years after it was registered by the ICAR- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI) in Goa to be named as a breed. Informing about the same, ICAR-CCARI director E B Chakurkar said, “A country or State is considered more resourceful because of its rich biodiversity and with Shweta Kapila being named as a Goan breed it is surely a proud moment.”
According to a previous government census, there were around 22,000 Shweta Kapila cows in the State.
“We had begun our research and survey throughout Goa around three to four years ago and registered it at the NBAGR in 2018 after it fulfilled all the necessary criteria to be named a breed. These cows are very economical as they have very low cost maintenance, thus preferred by farmers,” he added.
Highlighting one of the most important characteristics of this cow Chakurkar said, “Not many cows adapt to the climate and temperature where they are found, but it is different with Shweta Kapila as its body is very adaptable to external changes. The climate change scenario taking place across the world, this cow is best suitable as it can adapt itself to any adverse climatic situation,”
The complete white coloured cow found on the streets of North and South Goa is also well known because of its A2 milk which is considered to be rich in proteins. “Earlier it has been found that Shweta Kapila cows produce A2 milk which is rich in proteins and have health benefits,” Chakurkar added.
However, it has been reported that due to lack of production of these cows they are usually abandoned. “Studies are being undertaken to increase the production of these breed of cows but it will take around a decade or so. The government in-situ with farmers must help to preserve these animals,” Chakurkar stated.
