India accounts for 18 % of World’s Bovine population

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that India has 30 crore Bovines, which is 18% of the Bovine population of the world. He said that through traditional and scientific knowledge, and after years of hard work, today we have 42 breeds of cattle, along with Yak and Mithun, and 13 breeds of buffaloes. The Minister was speaking at release function of coffee table book on Mass embryo transfer by Department Of Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and Fisheries (DADF) at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.

The Minister also launched software to collect data for 20th livestock Census and said as the part of Prime Minister’s Digital India initiative, computer tablets will be used for 20th Livestock Census. This software will have all the tools to prepare analytical reports and real-time monitoring of census operation, according to a PIB release.

He said that the central government has set the target of doubling farmers’ income in the next 5 years and dairy sector will play a significant role in achieving the same. The DADF has prepared an Action Plan on Dairy Development to achieve this target.  A Vision 2022 document, prepared on the basis of National Action Plan, was also launched by the Minister. The document includes an outline for dairy development, recommends measures to double the farmers’ income, and also focuses on ways and means of making milk and milk products pure and safe.

The agriculture minister said from October 2-10, 2017, DADH in co-operation with 12 States undertook a Mass Embryo Transfer programme in Indigenous Breeds under the scheme, National Gokul Mission. Under this programme, embryos of higher genetic merit indigenous bovines such as Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Ongole, Deoni, and Vechur were transferred into surrogate cows. These cows were identified by UID and are under observation. The superior quality calves will be used for semen production at semen centres.

The Minister said through the use of Embryo transfer technology (ETT), a farmer can get a 5-6 fold increase in the number of offspring, which will be free from diseases. Fifty embryo transferred technology labs are being established under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.