Lok Sabha Question No. 3821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Indigenous Bovine Breeds
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: D.K. Suresh, Sumalatha Ambareesh, Nalin Kumar Kateel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## LOKSABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION No. 3821 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## INDIGENOUS BOVINE BREEDS

## 3821.  SHRI D.K.SURESH:

SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH:

HRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that Indigenous bovine breeds of India are robust and possess the genetic potential to play crucial role in the national economy, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is true that the population of Indigenous bovine breeds is declining and their performance is below the potential at present, if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  any  specific  programme  on  development  and conservation of indigenous breeds; and

(d) if so,the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) As per Indian Council of Agricultural Research indigenous bovine breeds of India are robust and possess  the  genetic  potential  to  play  crucial  role  in  the  national  economy.  Looking  towards  the importance  of  indigenous  bovine  breeds  in  national  economy  Government  of  India  has  initiated Rashtriya Gokul Mission with the aim of development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic  upgradation  of  bovine  population  and  enhancement  of  milk  production  and  productivity  of bovines.

- (b)  Total population of indigenous (indigenous breed and non descript cattle) cattle has declined by 6% between 19 th Livestock Census and 20 th Livestock Census. However, population of indigenous cattle breeds  has  increased  between  livestock  census  2007  and  2019.    As  per  Basic  Animal  Husbandry Statistics (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) average productivity of indigenous cattle has increased by 14% from 2015-16 to 2019-20.

(  c)  and  (d)  Government  of  India  has  been  implementing  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  with  focus  on development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative  to  the  farmers.  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  is  leading  to  increase  in  population  of  high yielding  animals  of  bovines  including  indigenous  breeds  of  cattle  and  buffalo  through  following measures.

(i)  Implementation of Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme using semen of high merit bulls including semen of high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds. Under the component till date 2.37 crore animals have been covered, 2.87 crore artificial inseminations have been performed and 1.5 crore farmers benefited.

(ii)  Implementation  of  progeny  testing  and  pedigree  selection  for  production  of  high  genetic  merit bulls  including  bulls  of  indigenous  breeds  like  Gir,  Sahiwal,  Tharparkar,  Kankrej,  Hariana,  Rathi breeds of cattle and Murrah, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Pandharpuri,  Nili Ravi breeds of buffalo. So far 2332 high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds have been produced and made available to semen stations for semen production.

(iii) Implementation of IVF for faster genetic upgradation of bovine population including indigenous breeds of cattle and buffaloes.  Under the component projects have been sanctioned for establishment of 30 IVF laboratories out of this 17 laboratories have been made operational and work is in progress at 13  IVF  labs.  As  on  date  12438  viable  embryos  of  indigenous  breeds  have  been  produced,  5864 embryos transferred, 951 calves born and 5976 embryos are under storage.

(iv)        For implementation of genomic selection DNA chip has been developed for identification of high genetic merit bulls of indigenous bovine breeds at young age against 6- 7 years taken in traditional method to prove genetic merit of the bulls. National Dairy Development Board has developed Indus chip  and  buff  chip  for  genomic  selection  of  cattle  and  buffaloes  including  animals  of  indigenous breeds. ICAR -National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has developed Low Density DNA chip exclusively for genomic selection of animals of indigenous breeds.

(v)  Sex  sorted  semen  production  for  indigenous  breeds  of  cattle  along  with  other  bovine  breeds  has been initiated in the country.  Sex sorted semen is important for production of female calves with 90% accuracy.    As  on  date  around  10  lakh  sex  sorted  semen  doses  have  been  produced  at  Government semen stations and 18 lakh semen doses produced at semen stations with Mehsana Milk Union, BAIF and ABS Chitale.

(vi)     Funds have been released to the States for establishment of 16 Gokul Grams for development and conservation of indigenous breeds of cattle and buffaloes in scientific and holistic manner out of which  14  Gokul  Grams  have  been  made  functional  and  work  is  in  progress  at  remaining  2  Gokul Grams.  Two National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres have been established as repository of germplasm of indigenous breeds.