Modern Animal Husbandry Practices Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission

ADOPTION OF MODERN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICES

The details of steps to encourage the adoption of modern animal husbandry practices is as follow:

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

The following steps/initiatives are taken under RGM for adoption of modern animal husbandry practices, advance breeding methods and enhancement of livestock productivity in all states of the country including Rajasthan and Jharkhand:

1. Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program: Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is expanding artificial insemination coverage in the districts with less than 50% AI coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds. Under the programme Artificial Insemination services are delivered at farmers’ doorstep free of cost. As on date, 7.3 crore animals have been covered, with 10.17 crore artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 4.58 crore farmers in the country. In Rajasthan, 45.26 lakh animals have been covered, with 55.99 lakh artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 32.47 lakh farmers and in Jharkhand 22.21 lakh animals have been covered, with 27.34 lakh artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 15.81 lakh farmers.
2. Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection: This program aims to produce high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. Progeny testing is implemented for Gir, Sahiwal breeds of cattle, and Murrah, Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrejbreed of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breed of buffalo are covered. So far 3,988 high genetic merit bulls have been produced and inducted for semen production.
3. Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen aims to produce female calves with up to 90% accuracy, thereby enhancing breed improvement and farmers’ income. Farmers receive support for assured pregnancy up to 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen. As of now, 341,998 farmers have benefited from this program.
4. Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology: This technology is utilized for the rapid genetic upgradation of bovines and an incentive of Rs 5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers interested in taking up IVF technology. To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 22 IVF laboratories and has produced 22,896 viable embryos, with 12,846 embryos transferred and 2019 calves born.
5. Genomic Selection: To accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes, the Department has developed unified genomic chips—Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for buffaloes—specifically designed for initiating genomic selection in the country.
6. Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep. During the last 3 years 38,736 MAITRIs have been trained and equipped under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

National Livestock Mission

1. The department supports inclusion of superior male germplasm in existing native gene pool for genetic upgradation of indigenous crossbred animals with higher per animal productivity       
2. The department is allowing import of good genetic small animals for improvement of the indigenous stock through scientific breeding programmes.
3. The department is promoting Innovation and Extension sub-mission which aims to incentivize the Institutes, Universities, Organizations carrying out research and development related to sheep, goat, pig and feed and fodder sector, extension activities, livestock insurance and innovation. Under this sub-mission, assistance will be provided to the central Agencies, ICAR Institutes and University farms for applied research required for development of the sector, extension services including promotional activities for animal husbandry and schemes, seminars, conferences, demonstration activities and other IEC activities for awareness generation. Assistance is also provided to mitigate risk through livestock insurance activity.
4. Under the sub-mission of Feed and Fodder, Fodder development activity is undertaken through strengthening of fodder seed chain to improve availability of certified fodder seed required for fodder production and encouraging entrepreneurs for establishment of fodder Block/Hay Bailing/Silage Making Units through incentivisation (50% subsidy on capital cost uptoRs.50.00 lakh). This in turn will increase the productivity of the animals.

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Reference: PIB