By IANS,
Gurdaspur (Punjab) : Liquor may be bad for health but its by-product from a newly established distillery in Punjab’s border district of Gurdaspur is proving a boon for farmers in the area.
Wet cake, a by-product of the grain-based distillery AB Grain Spirits, is proving beneficial for farmers of Kiri Afghana village in this district, 300 km from Chandigarh, as the milk yield of the cattle has gone up.
A company spokesman said Saturday that grain-based wet cake was a rich source of protein and fibre, and was proving to be a major constituent of cattle feed for the locals. Cattle feed mixed with wet cake increases the production of milk by up to 10 percent, he added.
“The protein and fibre contained in the cake can be easily digested by the cattle. The cake being a residue of the fermentation process contains a peculiar flavour and smell which attracts the cattle,” said AB Grain Spirits managing director Hardeep Singh Chadha.
Everyday, 190 tonnes of wet cake is produced as a by-product by the 120 kilolitres (KL) per day capacity plant, which is being consumed by the local cattle-rearing farmers.
“The protein content goes up to 20 percent by the time the wet cake reaches the cattle. Apart from increasing the lactating span of the cattle, protein is very good for muscles and general health of the cattle,” Chadha added.
The daily production of wet cake, which costs as low as Rs.1.50 per kg, in the plant is equivalent to 28.5 tonnes of protein which is suitable for 38,000 cattle. The consumption on daily basis leads to an increase in milk production by 30,000 litre per day, the spokesman claimed.
He added that the increased milk production in Punjab could benefit farmers by over Rs.200 million annually.