Bhubaneswar: In order to increase milk production, the states government has launched ‘sex sorted semen’ under the artificial insemination programme that would ensure upto 90% chance of production of female calves with high genetic merit.
Though milk production in the state has increased around threefold during the last two decades from 8.75 lakh tons in 2000 to over 23.73 lakh tons in 2021, the government wants to give a further boost to it, said Minister of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Arun Kumar Sahoo at a function organised to mark the launch of ‘sex sorted semen’ on Wednesday.
The minister said while using normal unsexed semen, the male to female calves born is of the ratio of 50:50. Over the years, there has been less demand for male calves and farmers leave them to stray, causing increase in stray cattle population. “With 90% chance of production of female calves with high genetic merit through sex-sorted semen, the burden of farmers to manage male bull calves can be lessened,” he added.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Sanjeev Chopra said sex sorted semen of advanced breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Cross Bred Jersey, Cross Bred Holstein Friesian would be available for farmers.
Principal Secretary, Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development R Raghu Prasad said the programme would be implemented in all districts with the government providing 75% subsidy to the dairy farmers. “While the cost of a single dose of sex sorted semen is Rs 715, the government would provide it to farmers at Rs 180 per dose,” he added.
Further, in the mineral bearing areas of the state covered under the OMBADC program, the facility will be provided with 100% subsidy. Initially over 5.50 lakh doses of sex sorted semen will be utilised to cover over 1.20 lakh dairy animals in the state in 2022-23.
Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, experts from the College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, departmental officials and dairy farmers were present at the event.
