Haryana farmers can now own ‘imported’ calves
By IANSTuesday, November 16, 2010
CHANDIGARH - Farmers in Haryana can now choose the sex of the calf in a cow’s womb, that too by using bull’s semen imported from US, officials said Tuesday.
The Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department has imported 2,000 doses of semen Holstein Friesian breed of bulls from the US, a high-yield variety of dairy animal.
“The long cherished dream of Haryana’s farmers to have a calf of the desired sex would become a reality now,” a department spokesman said.
“The eligible cows of Hariana and Sahiwal breeds are being identified, both at the farmers’ level and goshalas (cow sheds). In addition, top quality Holstein Friesian cows kept by dairy breeders too will be eligible,” he said.
“The semen would be given free of cost to the goshalas and at a suitable subsidy to the private breeders, depending upon their economic status,” he added.
He said that upon successful trial of this pilot project, the department might opt for a large-scale in-house production of top quality ‘Murrah’ sexed semen, the mainstay of dairy breeds in the state.
The ‘Murrah’ breed of cows has brought a mini-revolution in milk production in Haryana.
“Undoubtedly, with this technology, not only there would be a revolution in milk production in the state, but it would go a long way in maximising the economy of the farmers,” the spokesman said.
