A high-profile delegation from New Zealand, comprising Professor Garry Udy from MPI, Prof Nicolas Lopez from Massey University, and Dr David Hayman from TRG/ABS, along with Dr RO Gupta from NDDB, on Tuesday, met with Principal Secretary of Punjab Animal Husbandry department Mr Rahul Bhandari to discuss mutual collaboration in the animal husbandry sector, with a special focus on animal breeding and small-holder dairy systems.
Mr. Rahul Bhandari briefed the delegation on the ongoing initiatives under the National Dairy Plan-1, which was launched in July 2013. He said that the project focuses on improving genetic merit in cattle and buffalo populations through progeny testing, genetic evaluation, and selective breeding.
Key objectives of the project include producing high genetic merit (HGM) bulls for semen stations, establishing a robust system for genetic evaluation of young bulls, bull dams, and bull sires, and achieving steady genetic progress in milk, fat, SNF (solid-not-fat), and protein yields in cattle and buffalo populations.
Mr. Bhandari said that currently, the project is being implemented across 160 institutions in three districts of Punjab including Patiala, Sangrur, and Barnala. Significant milestones have been achieved under the project, including over 4,50,000 artificial inseminations (AI), registration of 50,000 female calves, body measurements of 2,20,000 animals, milk recording and type classification of 6,000 calved daughters, and procurement of 650 HGM male calves, he said.
He also emphasized the need for procuring high-quality bulls to further enhance milk production and quality in the state. Meanwhile, the delegation also engaged in detailed discussions on management practices and visited project villages in Patiala district, including Chaswal, Saholi, and Laut, to interact with local farmers and observe the success of the Murrah Progeny Testing (PT) Project.
Accompanied by the Director of Animal Husbandry Punjab Dr GS Bedi, the New Zealand team expressed satisfaction on the working and progress of the project in the state. Among others, Project Coordinator Dr Amit Khurana and Dr RPS Bali also attended the meeting.