Projects under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)

Project I: Implementation Of PT And PS Projects

Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection projects are scientific projects which were implemented under NDP-I for production of High Genetic Merit Bulls and testing of Bulls under semen production. These projects are long-term projects and their real impact can be realised only after an initial lag period of 10 years. Under NDP-I, PT and PS projects were implemented during 2011-12 to 2018-19. These projects are capable of meeting the major portion of bull demand of Semen Stations in the country. These projects were supported under Rashtriya Gokul Mission scheme so that the supply of High Genetic Merit bulls for Semen Stations can be ensured.

Financial Outlay:

Andhra Pradesh

i. Andhra Pradesh Livestock Development Board (Jersey Crossbred)- Progeny Testing

Gujarat

ii. Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala (Murrah)- Progeny Testing

iii.Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala (HFCB)- Progeny Testing

iv.Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala (Gir)- Progeny Testing 

v.Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala (Jaffarabadi)- Pedigree Selection

vi.Banaskantha Milk Union (Kankrej)- Pedigree Selection

vii.Mehsana Milk Union (Mehsana)- Progeny Testing

viii.Banaskantha Milk Union (Mehsana)- Progeny Testing

Haryana

ix. Haryana Livestock Development Board (Murrah)- Progeny Testing

x.Haryana Livestock Development Board (Hariana)- Pedigree Selection

Himachal Pradesh

xi. Himachal Pradesh (Jersey)- Progeny Testing

Maharashtra

xii. Maharashtra Livestock Development Board (Pandharpuri)- Pedigree Selection

Kerala

xiii. Kerala Livestock Development Board (HFCB)- Progeny Testing

Punjab

xiv. Punjab Livestock Development Board (Murrah)- Progeny Testing

xv.Punjab Livestock Development Board (Nili Ravi)- Pedigree Selection

xvi.Punjab Livestock Development Board (Sahiwal)- Progeny Testing

Rajasthan

xvii. Rajasthan Livestock Development Board (Tharparkar)-Pedigree Selection

xviii.URMUL Trust (Rathi)- Pedigree Selection 

xix.Shri Ganganagar Milk Union (Sahiwal)- Progeny Testing

Tamil Nadu

xx. Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producer’s Federation (Jersey Crossbred)- Progeny Testing

Uttar Pradesh

xxi. Animal Breeding Research Organisation (Murrah)- Progeny Testing

Project-II: National Bovine Genomics Centre-IB at SAG Bidaj

Traditional progeny testing programs gives very high accuracy of selection. Age of bull when its accurate breeding values are available is around 6-7 years in case of Holstein Friesian cattle in temperate weather. The same for cattle in our country is around 8-10 years and for buffaloes 10-12 years. Such long generation intervals nullify the gain achieved through higher accuracy of selection. There are also practical problems of semen production from old proven bulls when progeny test results are available. To negate this, NDDB started young bull model of progeny testing programme. However, the reliability of selection of AI bulls can reach up to 25 per cent with this approach. In dairy cattle breeding programmes, genomic selection allows breeders to identify genetically superior animals at a much earlier age. In fact, animals that have been DNA tested can receive a moderately accurate GEBV before they reach sexual maturity. This new technology has a huge potential for the country like India, where a large scale data collection is not widely established. Looking to the importance and potential advantages of Genomic Selection, NDDB in collaboration with SAG, has put on efforts to develop genomic selection methodologies for Indian cattle and buffalo breeds in India.

Total Outlay of the Project: Rs. 4506.00 Lakh

Project-III: Import of Bovine Germplasm

Import of HF and Jersey Bulls: With the objective of replacing HF and Jersey bulls that are available in the semen stations with the imported HF and Jersey bulls.

Import of Sahiwal, Gir and Red Sindhi : For meeting the increasing demand for Indigenous Dairy Cattle breeds like Gir, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi and to induct the High Genetic Merit Bulls of Gir, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi at a faster rate in Semen Production Centres, it is proposed to import Gir, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi Bulls.

Total Outlay for three years: Rs. 7680.00 Lakh

Project-IV: Strengthening of ETT/IVF facility at SAG, Bidaj

The project is aimed to conserve and propagate the excellent germ plasm of indigenous breeds with help of ET and to replicate the herd at Bull Production Unit in SAG Bidaj. The female calves born will be used to build the herd while the male calves born will be transferred to semen station for future bull replacement and the project proposes to strengthen the existing ET laboratory and IVF facility.

Total Outlay for three years: Rs. 536.85 Lakh

Project-V: Establishment/Strengthening of ETT/IVF facility at CCBFs

Central Cattle Breeding Farms were introduced by Govt. of India in various agro climatic zones of the country between 1968 to 1976 under various five year plans. Their main aim was to make available germplasm with high genetic potential of important indigenous and exotic cattle breeds (Holstein Friesian and Jersey) within the country so as to serve as a backbone of the dairy industry.
There are seven Central Cattle Breeding Farms (CCBFs) located at Alamadhi (Tamil Nadu), Andeshnagar (UP), Chiplima & Sunabeda (Orissa), Dhamrod (Gujarat), Hessarghatta (Karnataka) and Suratgarh (Rajasthan). These CCBFs are engaged in scientific breeding of cattle and buffaloes with the aim of production of high pedigreed bulls for genetic upgradation programmes. Besides, these farms are also providing awareness training to the farmers and breeders.

These farms maintain animals of indigenous and exotic breeds of cattle viz. Tharparkar, Red Sindhi; Exotic Breeds viz. Jersey, Holstein Friesian and important buffalo breeds viz. Murrah, Surti and crossbred cattle of Jersey X Red Sindhi and Holstein Friesian X Tharparkar.

In order to strengthen seven Central Cattle Breeding Farms and to upgrade them into ETT/IVF and Training centres the project on “Establishment/Strengthening of ETT/IVF centres at CCBFs” was approved.

Project-VI: Pilot Project on AI with Sex Sorted Semen

DAHD had released funds of Rs 588.1875 lakhs to NDDB for implementation of a Pilot Project on Artificial Insemination with Sex Sorted Semen of indigenous breed in five districts under RGM e.g. Amreli (Gujarat), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Shahjahanpur (UP), Varanasi (UP) and East Champaran (Bihar). Total 12500 AI with sex sorted semen were carried out in the project to test the efficacy of sexed semen of Indigenous breeds.

Project-VII: Establishment of AI training Institute and Monitoring of AI Network in NER States

Establishment of AI Training Institute at Guwahati, Assam:

Most of the existing AI training centres in North Eastern Region States are not accredited by the Central Monitoring Unit. Training conducted by these training centres is not in accordance with the MSP and SOP for training of AI technicians formulated by GoI. It was felt that, one of the major causes of low AI coverage in the region is absence of accredited AI training institute in the region and therefore there is an urgent need to establish regional accredited AI training institute with higher capacity in the NER states. As these States do not have experts and expertise for running AITI, NDDB has been requested to establish a AI training institute in Assam State. The AI training institute is being established by NDDB in Assam State on behalf of ALDA.

Monitoring of AI Delivery System in NER States:

A project on implementation of Artificial Insemination Programme in North Eastern Region with an outlay of Rs. 19207.2 lakh has been approved under RGM. NDDB has been requested to monitor the AI programme in North Eastern Region (NER) State, to improve the AI coverage.. All the activities related to AI shall be uploaded on INAPH data base and INAPH system would be used for monitoring the AI delivery system in NER States.

Monitoring of AI Delivery System in NER States:A project on implementation of Artificial Insemination Programme in North Eastern Region with an outlay of Rs. 19207.2 lakh has been approved under RGM. NDDB has been requested to monitor the AI programme in North Eastern Region (NER) State, to improve the AI coverage.. All the activities related to AI shall be uploaded on INAPH data base and INAPH system would be used for monitoring the AI delivery system in NER States.