Project to improve breed of buffaloes launched in Amritsar

A major artificial insemination project to improve the breed of buffaloes was launched here on Sunday with an aim to enhance production of milk.

A major artificial insemination project to improve the breed of buffaloes was launched here on Sunday with an aim to enhance production of milk. Buffaloes are a primary milch animal in Punjab and its milk with high fat content is much in demand,but due to the lack of improved breed of animals,the milk production per animal is quite low.

Currently,there are about 60 lakh buffaloes in Punjab,of which 27 lakh are giving milk at one point of time. Dairy farming has been playing a vital role in the rural economy by contributing 12 per cent to the states GDP,while 33 per cent of the total GDP of agriculture comes from dairy farming only,but there have been few attempts to improve the breeds, said Deputy Commissioner K S Pannu,who flagged off the project.

Stating that the focus has been on high-breed cows,he said the planners,scientists and administrators ignored buffaloes and did not invest properly for the improvement of their breed,feed and housing.

The average milk yield of a buffalo is only 4.3 litres per day at present. We have initiated a special programme in the district to improve the breed of buffaloes by adopting artificial insemination method, said Pannu,adding that bulls of superior breeds were available in abundance in the region.

He said educated youth had been identified in local villages who would be provided an exhaustive four-month training in artificial insemination,feed and fodder,first-aid and treatment of the animals for common diseases.

Each trainer will be available round the clock,looking after the artificial insemination process on buffaloes of five to six adjoining villages, said Pannu.

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