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The Central government has embarked on a major programme to conserve and propagate indigenous bovine breeds reared in the country by using sophisticated embryo-transfer technology.
In a first step, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has drawn up a plan to carry out 440 embryo transfers of indigenous cattle breeds such as Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Ongole, Deoni and Vechur by October 10. Embryo transfer technology (ETT), similar to the invitro fertilisation and surrogacy in human reproduction, is used to amplify reproductive rates of valuable female cattle, but has been seldom exploited in the country till date.
According to a senior official in the department, these embryo transfers are being carried out at 12 ETT centres across the country, including those located in Hosur in Tamil Nadu, Mattupetty in Kerala, Bengaluru and Lamfarm near Guntur in Andhra.
Big increase“We intend to raise as many as 3,000 high-quality bulls by 2018. Once they reach reproductive age, we will collect their sperm to increase the stock. Each bull can produce enough sperms to impregnate 20,000 cows a year,” the official said. He also said there are only 15 ETT centres in the country. “Over the next 2-3 years, we intend to increase such modern breeding centres to 50. The Centre has already allocated ₹94 crore for the same,” the official said.
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