Govt gets new semen sex tech to produce female calves

Gujarat’s milk production target in 2011-12 is 98 lakh tonnes but is expected to cross 1 crore tonnes due to this new technology
DILIP PATEL


This is one sex determination test that has the sanction of the state government. The animal husbandry department of the state government is setting up a frozen semen station laboratory at Patan, that will prepare 50 lakh doses of semen for the birth of cows and female buffaloes.
The semen sex technology imported from US will segregate the X and Y chromosomes from the semen of handpicked bulls and male buffaloes to produce female calf.
The machine has been imported at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore. This will not only give a major boost to the milk production in the state but also end the brutality involved in killing of bulls and male buffaloes that are considered of little use by farmers.
The milk production of Ahmedabad district is three lakh tonnes and there are one lakh cows. There are 1.80 lakh buffaloes. Gujarat’s milk production target in 2011-12 is going to be 98 lakh tonnes but is expected to cross one crore tonnes due to this new technology.
Animal husbandry director Dr AJ Kachhipatel told Mirror, “We will prepare 50 lakh doses of semen that will give birth only to cows and female buffaloes. As many as 96 bulls and male buffaloes of pure breed have been handpicked for the purpose and will be kept on a 270 acre land at Patan for the purpose.”
Kacchipatel said this technology will of great use as a majority of farmers and animal keepers want cows and female buffaloes.
He said this will also help preserve the original breeds of Gir cow and the Kankeraji cow as well as help produce hybrid varieties.
“The doses of frozen semen will be sent to four centres in the state and will be delivered to farmers and animal keepers through 4,000 artificial semen donation centres of the state government and cooperative sector. We will distribute the doses to all 18,000 villages in the state,” Kacchipatel said.
Animal husbandry secretary Rajiv Gupta said the new technology that has been imported is the first of it’s kind in India and will give a huge boost to the production of milk in the state. “The potential of the sector has been increased due to the import of this technology.”
There are presently 79 lakh cows in the state and 88 lakh buffaloes and the technology will help to produce semen not only to satisfy demands in the state but also to other states.
Kisan Sangh Secretary Jetha Patel said: “When a male buffalo is born, farmers either send them to the slaughter house or kill them by giving it sour buttermilk that kills them. About four years ago, majority of oxes were sold off and many of them ended up at the slaughter house as well. However, with an increase in the price of tractors, farmers have once again turned to the oxen to plough their fields.”
Jal Kranti Trust president Mansukh Suvagiya, “I had started a campaign to increase the population of Gir cow to 10 lakhs. When male buffaloes are born they are killed by either being subjected to starvation or through giving sour buttermilk.”
Rajiv Gupta, animal husbandry secretary, said: “The new technology imported to Gujarat is the first in India. It will give a major boost to milk production in the state.”