In India: Livestock Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University
The total lactation milk yield, peak yield, and lactation length were 2319.62+240.15 Kg, 1066+0.79 Kg and 395.73+ 8.03 days, respectively. Under CHRS where the animals are selected for performance, Gir produces 4257.290 Kg in lactation/ 307 days (Axar Purushottam Mandir Goshala M.R.C- Gadhda and Dam’s ID: G6267) February 2012. There were 15, 00,000 Gir cows in Gujarat till 1967.However, now much less are left in the whole region. While Brazil has 30, 00,000 to 40, 00,000 Gir cows and they are constantly upgrading the breed. Gir cows had brought white revolution in Brazil. They even have a coin depicting the image of Gir cow in Brazil. In Gujarat, Gir is known to have recorded 5000 liters in lactation, Jamka village.
Source: Project Directorate on Cattle/ICAR, Annual Report 2010-2011
In Brazil: The Gir dairy Farm Brasilia.
Gir produces 51.320 liters per day and, in a different record, 62 liters in 24 hours. In a standard lactation, Gir produces 8,405 liters in 355 days. Gir produces 17,182 liters in a full lactation of 365 days. As per a record, Gir produces 18,824 liters in a lactation of 380 days. Around 7, 50,000 Gir semen doses are sold per year.
Source: Fazenda Brasilia, St.Peter Irons – MG, Brazil, CEP 35360-000.
On account of contributions from Gir and Ongole it has also potentialities of milk production; the milk- producing capacity is extremely variable in the breed. The average lactation milk yields of Krishna Valley cows an average daily milk yield was 3.17 Kg as reported by farmers with the minimum yield of 1.5 Kg to maximum of 5 Kg.
Source: Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai.
Washington, Oct 28 (IANS) Cowdung compost helps restore mining ravaged soils, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) research. Thousands of acres of land with little or no vegetation, once mined for lead and zinc, blight parts of southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma and other parts of the world. The mining activities also leave behind a legacy of lead- contaminated acidic soils, toxic smelter sites and large quantities of mine tailings called "chat." Soil scientists including Paul White at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, under USDA, wanted to determine whether adding cow manure compost to soil at such sites would provide the carbon needed to support a healthy plant cover, the journal Applied Soil Ecology reported.
Two years after the study began, the composer also increased microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and nitrification potential, all of which create and support favorable conditions for plant establishment and growth, according to an ARS statement. High rates of compost also lowered lead and zinc availability by about 90 percent, which may reduce the amount of lead and zinc that could run off and pollute nearby waterways. Since high levels of bio-available zinc inhibit plant growth, this binding action also helps to promote the establishment of a vegetative cover that minimizes runoff and soil erosion.