Artificial insemination training

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, December 24, 2019: Seven days artificial insemination training programme of private artificial insemination workers, MAITRIs (Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India) and veterinary staffs organised under Rastriya Gokul Mission (RGM) concluded in a valedictory function held at the conference hall of Intensive Cattle Development Project (ICDP) Complex, Porompat, on Monday.

Altogether 67 trainees from various districts of the state attended the training programme starting from 16th of this month. It was organised with an aim to achieve the mission of two projects namely Animal Disease Control Programme and National Artificial Insemination Programme recently launched by Prime Minister of India on September 11 in the sector of animal husbandry.

Veterinary director Dr. H. Chaoba told reporters that the indigenous cow breed found in the hills and valley of Manipur produce merely 1or 2 litres of milk per day compared to other cow breeds. However, milk yield of the indigenous cow breed can be enhanced to around 6 to7 litres of milk per day through cross breeding with other high milk yielding cow breeds like Sahiwal and Red Sindhi.

He informed that artificial insemination of sex sorted semen in the strategic location of hill districts like Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati and Tamenglong has been started minimally to get only female calf for demonstration and mass awareness. Sex sorted semen cost around rupees 1000 to 1600 per dose. However, insemination programmes in the hill districts of Manipur could not be properly implemented owing to the traditional nature of cattle rearing, he added. He also appealed the farmer fraternity especially in the hill areas to properly rear the cattle so that A.I. programme can be properly implemented and to enhance milk production and to achieve doubling farmer’s income by 2022.

“Rashtriya Gokul Mission” was launched by the Government of India for conservation and development of indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. The mission also envisages establishment of integrated cattle development centres. Gokul Grams to develop indigenous breeds including upto 40% non descript breeds. Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focussed project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development.

The objectives of Rashtriya Gokul Mission are to develop and conserve indigenous breeds, improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds to improve their genetic makeup and increase the stock, enhancement of milk production and productivity, up gradation of non descript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi and distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.

Besides felicitation of trainees, certificates of participation were also distributed to the trainees during the function.