New draft rules to regulate livestock, cattle fair markets across Karnataka

No longer can a farmer brand, paint or decorate his cows or buffaloes, once the draft rules on animal markets, fairs and case animals become the law.
New draft rules to regulate livestock, cattle fair markets across Karnataka

BENGALURU: No longer can a farmer brand, paint or decorate his cows or buffaloes, once the draft rules on animal markets, fairs and case animals become the law. The annual cattle fairs that are held across the country witnesses trading in lakhs of cows, buffaloes, bulls, horses, camels, elephants, etc but it is not regulated.

Even as the annual cattle fair season is going on and issues of cruelty in animal rituals like Kambala and Jallikatu is raging in the country, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has come out with draft rules to regulate livestock markets and animals seized in cruelty cases.

The ‘Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals Rules, 2016’ and ‘Prevention of Regulation of Livestock Markets Rules, 2016’ rules have been framed in compliance with Supreme Court directions and is open for public comments and objections until February 23.

Under these rules, a comprehensive procedure for care, cost, maintenance, veterinary treatment and overall well-being of animals has been recommended. How animals are sold in cattle fairs, the way cattle are branded, decorated and painted by farmers forms a big part of these draft rules. Further, any animal that is seized will have to be handed over to shelters or pranidaya sanghas when the case is still going on.

Cattle fairs are very popular in Karnataka and usually held between November and March every year, says an animal welfare activist. “Farmers flock from different districts to these animal trading fairs to get the best breed at the best price. Be it the famous Belagavi, Birur, Hassan, Mandya or Magadi fair, they are held for a period of one week to 15 days. Most of these fairs are held in crowded small spaces with minimum facilities and chances of infections spreading among the animals are pretty high.”

So these recommendations come as a boon for the welfare of lakhs of animals and once it becomes the law, each state will have to set up a State Animal Welfare Board while each district will need to have a Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Further, animal marketing and their monitoring committees will have to be formed to stop cruel, unfair trading practices.

“Presently, during cattle fairs be it the famous Pushkar Mela or the Bidar cattle fair, they have minimum facilities for animal welfare and so the new draft rules’ proposal for proper enclosures for animals, proper feeding, shade, water troughs, vets, separate enclosures for young ones and pregnant animals is welcome,” said an activist.

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