New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS): The government has plans to provide free fodder to the owners of cows which have stopped yielding milk to prevent them from turning into a burden, union minster Prakash Javadekar said here on Saturday.

"Farmers feed cow till she produces milk. But when she stops producing milk, they hand her over to the butcher out of financial compulsions," Javadekar, the minister for environment, forests and climate change, said while addressing a conference on cow conservation organised by the Rashtriya Godhan Mahasangh along with the agricultural ministry here.

"Farmers love cows, but expenses incurred to feed her when she stops producing milk is a concern. Hence, we are thinking upon how jungles around villages can be utilised in this regard," he added.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Haryana Agricultural Minister O.P. Dhankar also attended the function.