Center offers 4 Breakthrough Technologies to states

The central government has developed four technologies for the livestock and dairy sectors which are available to all States. The four technologies will foster innovation, improve productivity, and provide cost-effective solutions to our farmers, official sources told Bizz Buzz.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) has informed states about the four technologies: indigenously developed bovine sex-sorted semen production technology, unified genomic chip for cattle and buffaloes, indigenously developed media in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and livestock product traceability platform.

The indigenously developed bovine sex-sorted semen production technology represents a crucial step forward in enhancing the productivity of India’s bovine population. With over 30 crore bovines, constituting 18 per cent of the world’s bovine population, India faces challenges due to the reduced utility of male bovines and an increasing strain on resources.

Until now, sex-sorted semen technology, which facilitates the birth of female calves with around 90 per cent accuracy, was unaffordable for many farmers, as technology was available only with multinational corporations. The DAHD, through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), has successfully developed an indigenous sex-sorting machine, which will reduce the cost of sex-sorted semen doses from approximately Rs 1,000 to Rs 250.

This will not only enhance farmer incomes but also significantly reduce the population of stray cattle over the next five years.

The unified genomic chip for cattle and buffaloes marks a pioneering effort in genomic selection tailored to India’s indigenous breeds. While genomic selection is common in developed dairy nations like the US and Germany, their technologies are designed for exotic breeds such as Jersey and Holstein Friesian, which differ genetically from Indian breeds.

In response, the DAHD, through the NDDB, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, has developed unified genomic chips namely the ‘Gau Chip’ for cattle and the ‘Mahish Chip’ for buffaloes. These chips, now available to farmers, will enable the early identification of high-quality bulls, enhancing productivity and genetic improvement.

The indigenous media for IVF is another breakthrough. This initiative is essential for rapid genetic improvement, achieving results in one generation (three years) rather than the traditional seven generations (21 years). The technology will significantly enhance the productivity of female calves, increasing farmers’ incomes and boosting India’s dairy sector by providing more affordable access to IVF. The livestock product traceability platform, developed in partnership with GS1 India, enables end-to-end tracking of dairy products.