Cattle and Buffalo Development
India possesses 27 acknowledged indigenous breeds of cattle and seven breeds of buffaloes. Various Central and centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented for genetic improvement of cattle and buffalo with a view to enhance the per capita availability of consumption of milk through increased milk production. Efforts are also made to protect and preserve the indigenous cattle and buffalo in their native tract, which are facing threat of extinction. The elite animals are selected and registered on the basis of their performance for production of superior pedigree bulls, bull mothers, frozen semen and frozen embryos for future breeding improvements.
The National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding envisages 100 per cent grant in aid to implementing agencies. The Project will also promote about 34,000 private A.I. practitioners and build up an annual frozen semen production capacity of 70 million doses. Since inception, 28 states and one Union Territory have been assisted with Rs. 462.27 crores upto 31st March, 2008 for participating in the project.
A Central Herd Registration Scheme (External website that opens in a new window) for identification and location of superior germ plasm of cattle and buffaloes, propagation of superior germ stock, regulating the sale and purchase, help in formation of breeders’ society and to meet requirement of superior bulls in different parts of the country is also being implemented. The Government of India has established Central Herd Registration Unit in four breeding tracts i.e. Rohtak, Ahmedabad, Ongole, Ajmer. A total of 92 Milk Recording Centres are functioning to register these breeds of cattle viz. Gir, Kankrej, Hariana and Ongole and in Buffalo Jaffrabadi, Mehsani, Murrah and Surti. During 2007-08, 14,711 animals were registered.
The seven Central cattle breeding farms at Suratgarh (Rajasthan), Chiplima and Semiliguda (Orissa), Dhamrod (Gujarat), Hessarghatta (Karnataka), Alamadi (Tamil Nadu) and Andeshnagar (Uttar Pradesh) are engaged in scientific breeding programmes of cattle and buffaloes and production of high pedigreed bulls for National Project for Cattle/Buffalo Breeding Programme besides providing training to farmers and breeders. During 2007-08, these farms produced 342 bull calves and supplied 218 high pedigreed bulls for use under Artificial Insemination Programme in various parts of the Country. 3711 persons were trained in farm management practices and demonstration of scientific breeding.
Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on: 31-03-2009 
