Lok Sabha Question No. 3754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Conservation of Indigenous Breeds of Cattles
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Prajwal Revanna

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

LOKSABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3754 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER 2021

## CONSERVATION OF INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF CATTLES

## 3754. SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by Government to conserve indigenous breeds of cattles particularly Hallikar, Amrithmahal ,Khillari etc. which are native to the State of Karnataka;
- (b)  whether the Government has conducted census of such breeds of cattle, if so, whether the numbers are declining or increasing during the recent years;
- (c) whether Indian Council of Agricultural Research in association with Animal Husbandry and Veterniary Department of Karnataka has undertaken any measures to protect such breeds, if so, the details thereof along with the funds sanctioned and utilised so far; and
- (d) the status of implementation of Rashtriya Gokul Mission in the State of Karnataka?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  Government  of  India  has  been  implementing  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  with  focus  on development  and  conservation  of  indigenous  bovine  breeds,  genetic  up  gradation  of  bovine population  and  enhancement  of  milk  production  and  productivity  of  bovines.  All  cattle  and buffalo breeds including Hallikar, Amrithmahal ,Khillari of Karnataka have been covered under the scheme. Following measures have been undertaken under the scheme for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds
- (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.

Karnataka  has  been  participating  under  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  and  an  amount  of  Rs  51.35 crore has been released since inception of the scheme. Following specific efforts have been made under  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  in  Karnataka  for  development  and  conservation  of  Hallikar, Amritmahal, Khillari breed of cattle:

(i)  Funds  have  been  released  to  the  State  for  establishment  of  Gokul  Gram      at  Lingadahalli, Chikkamagalur district for scientific and holistic development  of Amrithmahal breed of cattle, total of one thousand cows are being inducted and work is under progress.

(ii) Funds  have  been  released  to  the  State  for  implementation  of  Nationwide  Artificial Insemination  Programme. Under the programme semen of elite bulls of all indigenous breeds (Hallikar, Amrithmahal, Malnad Gidda, Khillar, Krishna Valley, Deoni, Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar  etc.)  has  been  used  for  genetic  upgradation  of  all  indigenous  breeds  including Hallikar, Amritmahal and Khillar breed of cattle.

(iii)  Funds  have  been  released  to  the  for  induction  of  Artificial  Insemination  (AI)  technicians (MAITRIs)  and  strengthening  existing  AI  network  for  extending  AI  coverage  including  AI coverage among indigenous breeds with elite bulls of indigenous breeds.

(iv)  Conservation  and  revitalization  of  indigenous  cattle  breeds  (Amrithmahal,  Hallikar  and Malnad  Gidda)  is  also  being  taken  up  under  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate changes  (MoEFCC)  funded-  National  Adaptation  fund  for  climate  change  (NAFCC)  project'Conservation and management of indigenous varieties of livestock (  cattle and  sheep)  in  the wake of climate changes in Karnataka''.

(v) As per the information received from the State Government of Karnataka following steps are being undertaken for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds including Hallikar, Amritmahal and Khillari breed of cattle: (a)  Amrithasiri Scheme under which female calves,  heifers  and  cow  of  all  indigenous  breeds  maintained  at  State  government  farms,  are distributed to farmers of native breeding tracts of respective breeds, at 25% of the book value for conservation and propagation; (b) Amrithadhara Scheme under which male calves and bulls of all  indigenous  breeds  of  Karnataka  maintained  at  State  government  farms,  are  distributed  to farmers of native breeding tracts of respective breeds as well as the farmers from taluks who had participated in open auction for the last 5 years, at the market value, for breeding and draught purpose.

(b) The population of indigenous breeds namely Amritmahal, Hallikar, and Khillari have shown declining  trend  between  breed  survey  2012  and  20 th Livestock  Census  2019.  However, productivity of indigenous cattle has increased by 13.6%  (from 2.49 kg per animal per day to 2.83kg per animal per day) between 2015-16 and 2019-20 (As per Basic Animal Statistics 2017 and 2020)

(c)    As  per  the  information  received  from  Government  of  Karnataka  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in association with Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of Karnataka has been undertaking following measures

(i) ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Southern Regional Station (NDRI-SRS), Bangalore  has  been  associated  with  Karnataka  Livestock  Development  Agency  in  the  project 'Conservation and management of indigenous varieties of livestock (Cattle and Sheep) in the wake  of  climate  change  in  Karnataka'.    Genomic  Studies  of  Hallikar  /  Malnad  Gidda  / Amrithmahal and Field Performance Recording of Malnad Gidda Breed of cattle are being taken up by NDRI-SRS, Bangalore. Under the project amount of Rs 350.00 lakhs have been sanctioned out of which Rs. 325.00 lakh has been released for the purpose and till date an amount of Rs. 298.12 lakhs have been utilized.

(ii) ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has been carrying out the work on the characterization of indigenous population of livestock and poultry and subsequently proceeds  for  their  registration  as  defined  breeds.  Besides  this,  ICAR-NBAGR  has  preserved semen  doses  of  above-mentioned  breeds  at  National  Gene  Bank  and  also  carried  out  in-situ conservation of Krishna Valley breed of cattle under ICAR-Network Project on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR)

(d) The status of implementation of Rashtriya Gokul Mission in the State of Karnataka is as under:

(i) Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme has been implemented in 17 districts of Karnataka  and  under  the  programme  quality  artificial  insemination  services  has  been  made available  free  of  cost  at  farmers  doorstep.    Under  the  programme  so  far  10.56  lakh  animal covered, 139.91 lakh artificial inseminations performed and 8.65 lakh farmers benefitted.

(ii) As  per  progress  report  State  has  installed  12  liquid  nitrogen  storage  silos  at  strategic location  to  streamline  liquid  nitrogen  and  transport  and  distribution  system,  trained  1329 MAITRIs out of this 550 are inducted, strengthened 3 semen stations, trained 1594 existing AI technicians  and  784  professionals.  State  yet  to  complete  establishment  of  Gokul  Gram  at Lingadahalli and initiate implementation of pilot project on marketing of A2A2 milk