The State Government has taken measures to increase the production capacity of existing semen station and to set up a new semen station in Keonjhar district soon.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated this while inaugurating a seminar on “Use of Advanced Technology in Bovine Breeding” here on Wednesday.
Patnaik too launched a programme on use of sorted semen in the State. In the first phase, sexed semen would be used in Salepur, Niali, Mahanga, Nischintkoili and Kantapada block of Cuttack. Besides, he distributed appointment letters to 121 newly recruited livestock Inspectors.
He said the comprehensive Bovine Breeding Policy of the State would encourage farmers to adopt advanced technologies to enhance the productivity of their dairy animals and to earn higher income.
The Chief Minister congratulated the department for achieving ‘A’ grade certification for the Frozen Bank Cuttack, for the year 2015-16 from the Central Government and felicitated the Joint Director of FSB.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Pradeep Maharathy, Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, Director AH&VS Pratap Chandra Dash, MlAs Priyadarshi Mishra and Bijay Mohanty and 300 participants were present.
Speakers from the Odisha College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Frozen Semen Bank, Cuttack, BAIF and JK Trust participated in the technical session.
Sethi said the sorted semen launched by the Chief Minister has got immense benefit where chances of getting female calves are more than 90 per cent.
Keeping in view the need for socio-economic development of farmers involved in animal farming, the Government has prepared an action plan in order to achieve target of procuring 10 lakh litres of milk per day, he said.
Since the year 2000, milk production in the State has increased by 118 per cent and egg and meat productions registered growth rates of 164 per cent and 341 per cent, respectively, between 2000-01 and 2015-16, the Secretary informed.
During the last five years, 69 lakh artificial inseminations in cattle and buffalo have been done leading to the birth of nearly 10 lakh superior female progenies, he added.
He said steps are being taken for enhancing productivity of existing indigenous and non-descript cattle through genetic up-gradation. While about 19,000 nondescript cattle were inseminated with Gir/ Sahiwal/ Red-sindhi semen recently, over 17,000 more such cows to be covered during the current year.
The department is also planning to use sex sorted semen through the BAIF Development Research Foundation in five districts, Angul, Subarnapur, Bargarh, Sambalpur and Balangir.