In order to encourage people to rear indigenous or nondescript cows, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) Department undertook an artificial insemination (AI) programme and inseminated around 10,000 such cows across the State from October 2 to 8.
Nondescript cows in all the districts of the State, where the JK Trust and BAIF are engaged in dairy development activities, were covered under this project by estrus synchronization protocol.
Synchronized breeding is an advanced reproductive method, where two physiological events, estrous and ovulation, are controlled by using reproductive hormones.
Under this programme,a double synch protocol was followed for synchronisation of cattle. Cyclic cows were selected in the operational area covering 355 Artificial Insemination centers and all the cows were tagged for identification in each centre.
These cows were de-wormed and supportive therapy like Mineral mixture and Vitamin supplementation were provided for better sexual health. The selected animals were injected with first dose of hormone PGF2 a followed by GnRH at an interval of 48 hours. Second doses of hormone PGF2 a were given on 9th day of first dose of PGF2 a followed by GnRH on 11th day.
All the animals that underwent hormonal induction were kept under observation in the cow shed.
Following the above protocol, majority of cows showed the symptoms of oestrus. The cows exhibiting oestrus were inseminated with indigenous semen (Gir, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi) followed by second insemination after 24 hours.
Altogether 18,812 inseminations were conducted under the program in 133 blocks of 17 districts. Participating farmers were not charged any charge for breeding services provided to their cows.
The programme was aimed at encouraging farmers to rear indigenous breeds/non-descript cows and enhance productivity of existing cattle through genetic up-gradation.
The AI prevents undesired natural breeding by stray bulls which usually results in unproductive population and facilitates genetic up-gradation of desi cows in the shortest possible time. Besides, it promises better income generation in a shorter duration by optimal exploitation of animal resources, viewed senior officials at a meeting held here under chairmanship of FARD Secretary Bishnuapada Sethi.