It is said to increase the reproductive efficiency of cows by three to four times
As part of its livestock development program, the government is focusing on implementing the “Mission Punganur” to improve the quality and number of the famous Punganur cattle, which are known for their nutritious milk and have proven themselves in organic farming, in the next five years at the research center of the University of Pulivendula.
According to an official release, the main goals of the project are the conservation and reproduction of Punganur cattle and the rapid reproduction of the superior females through Embryo Transfer Technology (ETF).
Another important aspect of the project is to use cows with low genetic earnings efficiently as replacement cows and to produce elite offspring.
The aim is to increase the reproductive efficiency of cows three to four times. The project envisages the production of at least 8.5 offspring from each cow in five years, compared to 2.5 offspring from each cow in the same period under normal circumstances. A total of 1,690 offspring are expected from 200 superior donors.
Funds sanctioned
The government has sanctioned the AP Center for Advanced Research on Livestock Limited 69.36 crore for Punganur cattle production using IVF technology.
Animal Husbandry Director Amarendra Kumar has stated that Punganur milk is nutritious and medicinal, and the number has dropped to a few hundred. Therefore, emphasis was placed on increasing their population.