Breeding Policy and programmes 2008 Summary
Chapter 3 The Breeding Policy recommended by the committee to evaluate and formulate breeding policy in the State, based on the recommendations of 1998 and the findings presented at chapter 2 and approved by Govt. of kerala is summarized below: 1. Considering all aspect and keeping in mind the responses from different stake holders including the farmers in the State, it is proposed that only Jersey and Holstein Friesian will continued to be used as exotic donor breeds. two lines of Sunandini would be developed based on the preponderance of exotic inheritance in the animals, viz Jersey line and Holstein line. The farmers would be given the choice to select the semen from bulls based on the donor breed used for production of the bull. Farmers would also be made aware about the two lines and requested to cooperate so that the two lines are not crossed. 2. The level of exotic inheritance be limited to around 50% in the small holding population. But the small farmers with good resources and farmers involved in commercial/semi commercial dairying could be provided with semen of high value pure breeds Holstein Friesian bulls under close monitoring by the State Animal Husbandry Department and the Kerala Livestock Development Board. It is recommended to use such bulls for cows registered under State run programmes like “Ksheeradhara” and “Gorekha”.In all the cases germplasm provided by KLD Board alone may be used in the state and it should be under the supervision of Director of Animal husbandry. 3. The committee recommends continuing of the present bull selection programme with following modifications. a. It is recommended to expand the field performance recording area under progeny testing scheme to all possible parts of the state. b. It is recommended to adopt latest methods of sire evaluation like BLUP or Animal Model. c. The committee has observed that there is a need to emphasize milk quality parameters like butter fat percentage while selecting bulls d. It is recommended to include physical traits like udder quality, size and symmetry in the bull selection programme. 4. In order to increase the genetic diversity in the population it is recommended to introduce F1 crossbred bulls produced by using donor exotic breeds on famous indigenous breeds like Sahiwal. 5. It is recommended to use crossbred bulls of high genetic merit available in other parts of country after assessing the performance of their daughters either in Kerala or in field conditions in other parts of country having similar agro-climatic conditions as prevailing in the State. 6. It is recommended to replace around 20% of the exotic bulls used for F1 bull production on annual basis with those having high genetic merit and preferably from unrelated sources, qualifying to minimum standards for milk quality parameters like fat percentage. A minimum standard of 4% fat for Jersey and 3.8% fat for Holstein Friesian is recommended. 7. Committee recommends that all the male calves, which are either produced or procured by the Kerala Livestock Development Board to be reared as future breeding bulls, be subjected to parentage test using molecular technology to confirm their pedigree. 8. It is recommended to strengthen embryo technology in the production of breeding bulls used for AI in the State by using cows of farms that have not qualified to become bull mothers as the recipients. 9. The committee recommends culling and removing about 2% of the Sunandini population for poor milk production and 1% for delayed first calving age annually. The State could produce superior heifers through nominated mating in elite cows identified in farms and field and use them for replacement. In any programmes planned by government for such replacement, farmers willing to replace poor yielders may be given preference, thus compensating the loss of the owners. 10. It is recommended to identify the high producing cows in all AI centre through the “Gorekha” programme of the State and provide them with Premium semen produced by the proven bulls. If such cows are identified by the State Animal Husbandry department or the Kerala Livestock Development Board to be maintained under high input system with ample resources, they may be provided with pure exotic semen from Jersey or Holstein Friesian breeds as found suitable for the area. 11. Emerging commercial/semi commercial dairy farms would be encouraged by providing technical support and high quality breeding inputs. 12. Considering the disparity in one of the zone among the two identified in the State, comprising of Kasargod, Kanoor, Wynnad, Malapuram, Palakkad and Idukki, it is recommended to intensive efforts from all stake holders targeting at the improvement of this Zone. 13. It is recommended to reduce the AI centres in a phased manner so as to improve the efficiency and quality of frozen semen distribution system to the AI centres and reduce the expenditure on AI delivery, which could be utilized for other improvement programmes 14. Observing the disparity in AI services among two zones identified in Kerala, it is recommended to reallocate the AI centres among the Zones to improve the AI accessibility in Zone comprising of Kasargod, Kanoor, Wynnad, Malapuram, Palakkad and Idukki. 15. Considering the convenience of the farming community and the economic advantages, it is recommended that all AI be exclusively offered at the doorstep of the farmers. 16. It is recommended to make refresher training of AI technicians, whether in private or Government sector, once in three years mandatory. 17. The checking of quality of the semen doses at the level of the Regional Semen banks before being distributed to the AI centers should be continued. Random sampling of semen doses from the AI centers on a regular basis for bacterial load, motility etc. is recommended to be made mandatory. 18. In order to monitor and control the varied activities it is recommended to constitute a “State level Regulatory Authority” with legal powers. All the activities related to AI operations of the State including import of semen/animal/embryos, quality checking of the semen doses, setting up standards and certification for bulls/semen/embryos, licensing of AI technicians, implementing of breeding policy, may be monitored by this body. It is proposed to constitute the authority with Secretary (AH) as Chairman, and Director (AH), Director Dairy Development, M.D KLD Board and a Geneticist from the Univesity as members. 19. It is recommended that the State level Regulatory Authority initiate urgent step to license breeding bulls essential for the State and direct intensive measures to sterilize other bulls, unfit for breeding purpose. 20. It is recommended to continue the practice of providing pedigree details of bulls whose semen is distributed to the AI centres and also explore the possibility of providing the farmers with the option to choose the bull, semen of which is available n stock at the AI centre 21. The minimum standards for production of frozen semen prescribed by the Government of India would also have to be abided by the frozen semen production station in all their activities. 22. As part of farmers’ awareness programme regular telecast of visual clipping in television is recommended to ensure timely AI and to make farmers aware the correct method of mobile AI. 23. It is recommended to conduct periodic farmer training programmes with emphasis on improved management of dairy animals to maximize the expression of genetic potentials. 24. Fodder production programme is observed to be not picking up well. It is recommended to strengthen the programme thorough the involvement of the Grama Panachayats. Steps would also be initiated to ensure un-interrupted supply of quality feed. 25. It is recommended that the special livestock breeding programme be expanded to cover maximum of the female calves born in the State annually. It is further recommended to expand the programme to cover all the areas under progeny testing incorporating all the female calves born to test bulls. 26. The efforts to achieve ‘zero sterility’ are recommended to be strengthened for improving the reproductive efficiency of the cattle. 27. It is recommended that the Gorekha programme is strengthened and continued with the objective of establishing a herd book of dairy animals and later institutionalizing breeders associations. The elite cows identified under the programme should be used for producing the replacement stock of females in the population by providing them with premium semen. 28. In consideration of unwillingness of farmers in rearing buffalo mainly because of difficulty in management and non-availability of good animals, it is recommended that the existing grading up programme for buffaloes with Murrah is continued using superior bulls procured from the native tract of Murrah. Conservation programmes of native swamp type buffaloes would be intiated and the insitu programmes would be carried out jointly by State Animal Husbandry department and Kerala Livestock Development Board in association and with guidance from Kerala Agricultural University. 29. The breeding programme for goats may be strengthened by supply of superior bucks and does and providing AI service. Performance recording and Malabari breed improvement progammes would be initiated 30. Conservation programmes of native breeds of all livestock in the state would be intensified and the programmes would be carried out jointly by State Animal Husbandry department and Kerala Livestock Development Board. Associated research activities would be carried out by Kerala Agricultural University. The native breeds available would be kept in their pure form by providing suitable assistance to farmers involved in keeping such animals. 31. It is recommended that the implementing agencies should approach the research organizations like Kerala Agricultural University, Centre for Development Studies (CDS) for solving field related issues concerning dairying. The following R & D programmes shall be taken up
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Studies to find out the percentage of various solids in the milk of different genetic groups of crossbred cows.
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