Friday, December 28, 2012

Erode Karungalpalayam dairy animals market attracts Dairy farmers


SEVAI Team visited Erode Dairy animal market

“Erode Karungalpalayam dairy animals market attracts Dairy farmers” Kalamegam said in Erode, a leading dairy farmer of Kulitalai area to SEVAI team who went to study the market for OFI Cow project. He described that the cow farmers purchase freshly calved animals in their second/third lactation at Karungalpalayam, Erode Dairy farming. Kalamegam further said, “There is a market for pregnant, lactating cows at Karungalpalayam, Erode. Every Thursday, it starts at early morning. Most breeds of cows are sold in this market and several cow farmers surrounding districts visit this market to buy their cows of higher quality. More than 1000 cows were sold in a day at Karungalpalayam, Erode cattle market. This cattle market is one of the biggest in Tami Karungalpalayam, Erode l Nadu.On Thursday noon, cows are sold at Rs 25000 to Rs 60,000per cow. Similarly the buffaloes were sold at Rs 24000 to Rs 58000 (per buffalo).The sellers and buyers said that Karungalpalayam, Erode dairy animals market is a fair price market if the middlemen are avoided. Modern and well established scientific principles, practices and skills should be used to obtain maximum economic benefits from dairy farming as Dairying is an important source of income to small/marginal farmers and agricultural labourers. More profits can be earned depending upon the breed of animal, managerial skills and marketing potential. Karungalpalayam dairy animal market sells mostly cross breed cows such as Jersey cows; Holstein (black and white) cows and a few other local breeds. The color in Jerseys varies from a very light gray to a very dark fawn, Age at first calving: 26-30 months, intercalving – 13-14 months, Dairy milk yield of cross breed Jercy is found to be 10-15 liter per day. In India this breed has acclimatized well especially in the hot and humid areas. Holstein Friesian breed is originated in Holland. Holsteins are large, stylish animals with color patterns of black and white or red and white. Holstein heifers can be bred at 15 months of age, when they weigh about 800 pounds. It is desirable to have Holstein females calve for the first time between 24 and 27 months of age. This is by far the best diary breed among exotic cattle regarding milk yield. On an average cross breed H.F gives 15-20 liter of milk per day. It performs well in delta areas. The cross breeds were found to have higher birth weight, faster growth rate, earlier age at first calving, higher weight ; at first calving, higher lactation yield, longer lactation period) shorter service period, dry period and milk production and breeding efficiency. Results are seen more quickly in characters like milk yield in the crossbred progeny”.-Govin

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Culture is the arts to understand the culture of a nation



SEVAI School cultural team those won the prizses

Student Sophia expresses her talets
“Culture is the arts to understand the culture of a nation, people, the arts, beliefs, customs, practices, values, and social behaviors” said Mrs.B.Chita the principal of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School, Arubuhalnagar. She further spoke to cultural team of the school pupils. “By attending cultural events, a SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School student experiences firsthand the diverse offerings of culture and artistic expression found in a community. Education cannot happen just at school it must go beyond the walls of the classroom. Watching a play performed live is quite a different experience than reading a play from a book. Through attendance at events, SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School students broaden their horizons and gain unique insights into their own communities as well as a broader global perspective of our world’s diverse cultures. Parents and students need not spend a fortune attending events there are many no- and low-cost activities that fulfill the requirement. Students are encouraged to attend a wide variety of cultural events and, in that way, gain an important glimpse into life beyond SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School. For SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School purposes, a cultural event must be a “live” event and one that is of high quality. Listed below are characteristics of what is and what is not considered a cultural event. For SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School, qualified cultural events include: A live performance of music, dance, drama, or poetry recitation, Sanctioned activities of the SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher School such as after-school activities or evening art performances. After attending a cultural event, a student must write a reflective piece about the experience. Each student should check with his or her literature teacher for due dates and specific grading criteria and  Explain why the students  chose to attend the event and Make a connection between the event and the events in their own life, the world around you, or something about which you are learning in school”. -Govin

'SEVAI-OFI'-A happy and healthy cow is a productive cow



Cow care by proper washing in SEVAI
“A happy and healthy cow is a productive cow” said by K.Devendran while speaking to cow farm Women self Help Group members of Sirugamani. K.Devendran serves as coordinator of SEVAI-OFI Cow farm promoted by SEVAI in Sirugamani in Trichirappalli District. K.Devendran in the farm further added, “The cows are here to produce milk but we want them to have a really good life while they do it. Caring for cows is the number one priority for dairy farmers of this SEVAI-OFI Cow Project. Dairy farms have traditionally played an important role, with farmers taking great care and pride in protecting the environment.  Dairy farmers should know that cows like to move around and socialise, so they make sure there is plenty of space for exercise as well as rest. SEVAI-OFI cow farm practice is for maximizing animal welfare is grouped into essential categories such as Housing, Nutrition, Animal Health., Animal Handling, Movement and Transport and Farm Worker Education”.K.Devendran also mentioned “Providing cows with nutritious feed is also important. Cows need a healthy, balanced diet in order to produce milk, so dairy farmers work with nutritionists to create special diet plans for them. Most dairy cows eat grass and silage and cereals, protein feeds, vitamins and minerals. The vets make regular visits to the farm to make sure the cows are healthy, and work with farmers to create a herd health plan. It is monitored by SEVAI and certain standards ensure that cows have ready access to nutritious feed and fresh water, spacious and comfortable barns and pastures and the best veterinary care.  A herd health plan covers every topic from housing to feed, right through to any preventative strategies such as vaccinations. Appropriate training and supervision of farm employees ensure that animal care and handling standards are being met. Written and verbal training helps farm workers to do the following such as Recognize and understand basic animal needs, rapidly diagnose and treat animal illnesses or injuries, Handle, move and transport animals in a manner that minimizes animal distress and is safe for the animal and the caretaker, Perform humane euthanasia procedures competently and to understand and implement biosecurity measures. Great cow care isn’t just the right thing to do for the animals; it’s also good business practice for dairy farmers. It comes down to self-interest: happier cows make more and better milk; and more and better milk means bigger rewards for the cow- farmer”. - Govin

Monday, December 24, 2012

The physical education program provides opportunities for students to become critical thinkers


SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation H S School in Physical Education

SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School gives top priority for Physical education. SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School Physical Education Director Kannan spoke on school sports day recently and said, “The physical education program provides opportunities for students to become critical thinkers, creative planners and effective practitioners. Physical education trends have developed to incorporate a greater variety of activities. Introducing students to physical Education activities at an early age can help students develop good activity habits that will carry over into adulthood. Teaching sports to students may also provide the necessary motivation for students to increase their activity, and can help students learn about different cultures. Teaching sports provides a great opportunity to integrate academic concepts from other subjects as well with four key aspects of Physical education such as physical, mental, social, and emotional”. Kannan further added, “to be successful in the field, a physical education student must like to work with people, be adequately skilled in physical activities, have a commitment to fitness and be interested in the physical, biological and social sciences. The student majoring in physical education will be studying the art and science of human movement, which includes classes in middle and high school activities; motor learning, physiology and the psychology of human movement; the art of teaching and motivating students; and an appreciation of the individual differences of all people. With the recent outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, school is making it mandatory for students to learn about practicing good hygiene along with other health topics. This push towards health education is beginning in the intermediate level, including lessons on self-esteem and stress and anger management. Schools can promote public health objectives by increasing physical activity among students. The physical education allows students to experience at least a minimum exposure to the following categories of activities: aquatics, conditioning activities, gymnastics, individual/dual sports, team sports, and dance. Students are encouraged to continue to explore those activities in which they have a primary interest by effectively managing their community resources. Pupils are allowed to bring their own sports equipment to the school with the authorization of the teacher”. -Govin

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Art therapy involves different tasks for exceptional children


Art therapy in SEVAI School for exceptional child

“Art therapy involves different tasks for exceptional children” opined by Periyakka, early childhood educationist and special educator of SEVAI run bridge course in Arumbuhalnagar. She further added, “There are students with exceptionalities in the bridge school run by SEVAI under SSA. Majority of these students are under various forms of therapy, which could include cognitive, behavioral, etc. Art therapy has been known to be an effective tool to incorporate with other forms of therapy. There are many ways of examining art therapy, including understanding its nature, benefits, uses in schools, and even discussing the issues relating to it. It has been known to build communication skills and school achievement for children with various disabilities. Artwork, in general, has a tendency to be abstract and complex. Artists who create these artworks have to have a sense of focused behavior and individual creativity. Exceptional children can relate to this idea due to the many various abstract and sometimes complicated disabilities they experience. But could art be used as a coping mechanism along with other forms therapy, such as cognitive and behavioral treatments. Many schools have art classes or activities as a part of its curriculum base, but the use of art as a therapeutic tool for children with exceptionalities is the idea behind art therapy. Art therapy’s purpose, regardless of the circumstance, is to encourage children and adolescents to express their feelings, participate in new tasks, such as those involving focused attention, and to learn creativity.   Art therapy involves different tasks that allow children to be in the “artist’s seat”, and uses their creativity to form different kinds of artwork. There are various ways of examining the form of therapy currently presented. The first way would be having an understanding for which population art therapy would be helpful. Another way would be to examine the benefits of art therapy with different situations. The third discussion would be exploring its uses and incorporating it within the schools. Next, would be discussing some possible issues relating to art therapy”. Govin