Punjab targets 3 million Dairy Livestock for artificial insemination

With an aim to boost milk production and enhance disease resistance in animals by improving the breed quality of livestock, Punjab Animal Husbandry department has set an annual target of 30 lakh artificial inseminations across the state.

Revealing this today, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the state has two Semen Station at Nabha & Ropar.

A total of 93 bulls are housed at the A-grade semen station in Nabha for production of best quality semen to improve the genetic potential of dairy livestock. This group comprises 60 Murrah buffalo bulls, 10 Nili Ravi buffalo bulls, 7 Holstein Friesian (HF) cow bulls, 4 HF Cross cow bulls, 3 Jersey cow bulls and 9 Sahiwal cow bulls.

At the B-grade semen station in Ropar, a total of 46 bulls are housed. There are 26 Murrah buffalo bulls and 8 Nili Ravi buffalo bulls. Additionally, the station houses 4 Holstein Friesian (HF) cow bulls, 1 HF Cross cow bull and 7 Sahiwal cow bulls, he added.

He further informed that the state has undertaken major Progeny Testing (PT) projects for Murrah, Sahiwal and Pedigree Selection (PS) for Nili Ravi. These projects focus on improving the genetic potential of Murrah, Sahiwal and Nili Ravi breeds through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the PT-Murrah project is implemented in Patiala, Barnala and Sangrur districts. PT-Sahiwal is implemented in Shri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka districts. PS-Nili Ravi is implemented in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts of the state of Punjab.

The total financial outlay of these projects was revealed for 2019-26 which is around Rs. 57 Crore, out of which Rs. 28.5 Crore is for PT-Murrah, Rs. 20.88 Crore is for PT-Sahiwal and Rs.7.55 Crore is for PS-Nili Ravi projects.

Till today a total of Rs.25.8 crore funds have been utilised for these projects out of which Rs. 16.25 Crore is utilised under PT-Murrah, Rs. 6.89 Crore for PT-Sahiwal and Rs.2.66 Crore has been utilised under PS-Nili Ravi Project in the selected districts of the state for the welfare and betterment of the farmers. A total of 419 Murrah, 194 Sahiwal and 19 Nili Ravi high genetic merit male calves have been procured since 2019 under the projects.

While stressing on the importance of robust monitoring and recording systems, the Animal Husbandry Minister said that these projects are a significant step towards transforming Punjab’s dairy sector by improving genetic potential, increasing milk production, improving quality and thus enhancing farmers’ income.

Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Gursharanjit Singh Bedi said that the department has established a system of proper monitoring and recording of various activities including breeding and milking of dairy animals to help making Punjab as a centre of attraction in upliftment of farmers and helping them in increasing their income. These projects will make the state a hub for dairy development.