Protection of Indigenous Cow Breeds
Research work has been undertaken on three indigenous breeds viz; Sahiwal, Gir and Kankrej under All India Coordinated Research Project on Indigenous Cattle by Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut. Germplasm Unit for Sahiwal is situated at NDRI, Karnal; for Gir at Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh and for Kankrej at Sardar Krushinagar Agricultural University, Dantiwada.
Under Network Project on Animal Genetic resources conservation programme on Bargur cattle of Tamilnadu and Ongole cattle of Andhra Pradesh is being implemented in field through respective State Agricultural Universities by ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal.
Ongole Frozen semen available with the Lam Farm of Sri Venkateshwara Veterinary University, Tirupati is being utilized in field for improvement and conservation of Ongole breed of cattle by ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal.
Bulls of Bargur cattle breed are being raised at Tamil Nadu University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Chennai Farm and semen from these selected bulls is being processed for freezing. The frozen semen of Bargur bulls shall be utilized for conservation and improvement of Bargur cattle in the field by ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal.
Research work is being undertaken on three indigenous breeds (Sahiwal, Gir and Kankrej) by ICAR-CIRC, Meerut. Besides, ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal is undertaking research on characterization of Ladakhi cattle, Indigenous cattle of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim States and Konkan cattle of Maharashtra.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri. Sudarshan Bhagat today in Lok Sabha.
SS/AK