Establishment of Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for sheep and goat
Category: Agriculture,Rural & Environment
Level: Central | State: All
Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries,Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Details:
Launched in the Financial Year 2014-15, the scheme "National Livestock Mission" by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, aims towards employment generation, entrepreneurship development, increase in per animal productivity and thus targeting increased production of meat, goat milk, egg and wool. The excess production will help in the export earnings after meeting the domestic demands. The concept of the NLM Scheme is to develop the entrepreneur in order to create the forward and backward linkage for the produce available in the unorganized sector and to link with the organized sector. **"Establishment of Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for Sheep and Goat (Genetic Improvement of Sheep and Goat Breeds)"** is a component of the "Sub-mission on Breed Development of Livestock and Poultry" scheme of the National Livestock Mission. The objectives of this component are:

- Genetic improvement of Indigenous descript breeds of sheep/goat through selective breeding
- Genetic upgradation of non-descript sheep/goat breeds through cross-breeding with high genetic rams or bucks to increase productivity.
- Reducing negative selection and inbreeding among sheep & goat breeds by propagation of superior male germplasm through artificial insemination and other developed assisted reproductive technologies. The Central Government will provide assistance for the establishment of a Frozen Semen production laboratory for goat and a liquid semen production laboratory for sheep at regional level in a strategic location to cater the semen of elite animals to the nearby states in the said region. This Establishment of Regional Semen Station will be based on the Expression of Interest from the States in the said Region which can produce semen and supply semen for the states at the region. Also the regional semen station will work as regional semen bank for frozen semen for goat. The semen labs will need to adhere to the guidelines of Minimum standard protocols for semen processing while preparing the project proposals. The semen produced in this laboratory will be distributed to the neighbouring states.

Benefits:
The funding pattern will be 60:40 for all the states except NER & Himalayan States where it will be 90:10 and 100% for UTs.
One-time grants-in-aid up to Rs. 4,00,00,000 as Central Share will be provided to the concerned state eligible for the establishment of Regional Semen Station for construction of semen laboratory, maintaining of breeding bucks and rams, sourcing of locally available high genetic merit animals and processing of semen. 
Rs. 30,00,000 will also be provided as a one-time expenditure towards procurement of consumables, medicines, chemicals etc. required for first-time processing of semen.
The regional semen bank shall have to generate its own resources for running of the semen station. No recurring expenditure will be provided for running expenses of the semen station.

Eligibility Criteria:
Only the State Livestock Agencies are eligible.