Other programmes
Over
and above the commercial functions, the Board takes up many developmental
activities, R&D and training programme with a view to improve
the genetic potential of the cattle population for milk production
as well as the feeding and management practices of livestock in
the State.
PIG PRODUCTION
GOAT BREEDING CENTRE
NATIONAL PROJECT FOR CATTLE AND BUFFALO BREEDING
Activities taken up under special schemes
| Further
development of the Sunandini through genetic selection, progeny
testing and herd book organisation |
| Continued
R & D programmes to support frozen semen production, embryo
transfer, progeny testing, etc. for the tropical conditions |
| R
& D programmes to identify suitable perennial varieties
of grasses and legumes that can come up well under the mixed
farming |
| Supporting
farmers for the production of fodder seeds as a viable enterprise |
|
Developing soil conservation methods using fodder cultivation
as a means |
| Sharing
the Board’s experience with other similar departments/organisations
in various parts of the country through training programmes |
| Development
of Malabari and Boer goats for prolificacy and weight gain |
| Produce
and supply hybrid piglets through scientific breeding and
selection practices |
Pig
Production
The
Government sector has a production capacity of 6000 piglets per
annum. In view of this, the Government decided to start a large
pig breeding farm and thus increase the availability of quality
piglets.
Objectives
|
Production
and supply of 10,000 piglets to the fattening farms annually |
|
Production
and supply of breeding stock to the breeding farms, which
in turn will produce about 30,000 piglets for fattening |
|
Providing
hands-on training in pig husbandry |
The
breeding plan chosen was to keep 3 nucleus lines (Large White,
Landrace and Duroc) produce F1 generation of Large white x Landrace
as the female line and use Duroc as the terminal male for producing
three way cross to be used as fattening stock. To ensure the highest
productivity, the Board imported superior germ plasm from U.K.
with the assistance of Swiss Development Cooperation.
Goat
Breeding Centre
Malabari Goat Production
The
major proportion of the goat population in Kerala belong to Malabari
breed and is well adapted to the agro-climatic conditions of the
State. As a part of the diversification programme, the Board,
during the year 1990-91, started a pilot project on goats at Kulathupuzha.
The objectives of the project were:
| Development
of nucleus stock of Malabari goats through selective breeding
for economic traits like prolificacy and weight gain |
| Development
of a nucleus stock of Malabari breed aimed at the supply of
superior breeding stock to the farmers. |
| Conduct
of R&D programmes on deep freezing of buck semen, AI in
goats, goat rearing practices, housing and management of goats
under small herd system. |
The
project was subsequently shifted to the Dhoni Station where it
was further expanded with the induction of new breeding stock
purchased from selected pockets of northern Kerala.
Boer Goat Production
Boer
goats are considered far superior to any other goats for meat
production. It is known for rapid weight gain and heavy muscling
and has high fertility. Boers typically give birth to twins. Crosses
of local goats with Boers have proved to be a suitable genotype
for the goat production system and well adapted to all types of
climate. Within the confines of the general farmer of Kerala,
high heat, seasonal rainfall and humidity should not compromise
the performance of Boer goats.
Considering
the above potentials of Boer goats and the necessity for improving
the productivity of goats in the State by genetic improvement,
the Board introduced Boer goats. As a first step 50 selected Boer
goats and 10 selected Boer bucks were imported from Australia
during 2001 under the National buck Production Programme.
The objectives of the programme are:
| Maintaining
a nucleus herd of Boer goats through selective breeding for
economic traits. |
| Developing
a nucleus stock of Boer goats aimed at the supply of superior
breeding stock to farmers and other needy agencies. |
| Undertaking
trials for crossbreeding Boer with Malabari goats to assess
the performance of the crossbreds. |
| Undertaking
R&D programmes on deep freezing of Boer buck semen and
propagation of the breed through AI. |
Freezing of the semen of selected Boer bucks is also being done
in the Goat Breeding Centre.
New Schemes in Goat Production Sector
Conservation of Malabari goat germplasm and dissemination
in the state of Kerala
Malabari
is the only recognized breed of goat native to the state, known
for their prolificacy and weight gain even under adverse management
conditions. The project which is 100% Centrally sponsored, has
a total outlay of the project is Rs. 28.40 lakhs for a period
of two years. The scheme is to conserve and disseminate Malabari
germplasm and the objectives are:
|
Identification of pure Malabari goats from their breeding
tracts |
| Conservation
of Malabari breed by maintaining a doe level of about hundred
numbers |
| Maintaining
a data bank and regular analysis for improving and selecting
superior Malabari stock. |
| Distributing
the superior bucks to a wider area so as to improve the production
performance of goats in Kerala |
Conservation and Improvement of Malabari Goats Through
Field Performance Recording and Buck Distribution Programme
In
order to have a substantial improvement in the goat production
sector a new scheme has been initiated under plan funds from Government
of Kerala, which envisage the following components.
| Setting
up field performance recording areas in the native tract of
Malabari |
| Identify
superior females in the FPR areas through performance recording
for selection as buck dams |
| Produce
sufficient quantities of male kids from the selected dams
|
| Subject
the male kids to performance recording for selection |
| Identify
suitable agencies for purchase of the breeding bucks to be
used |
| Improving
the quality of the Malabari goats and upgrade the non-descript
goats in the state |
| Establish
a Malabari Goat Breeders’ Association for ensuring the
sustenance of the selection and herd improvement programme |
National
Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB)
With
a view to cover the entire breedable cattle of the state through
AI programme using frozen semen, the Government of India is sponsoring
the National Project for Cattle & Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB).
The KLD Board has been nominated as the State Implementing Agency
(SIA) of this 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Through
the implementation of NPCBB in Kerala, the State expects to achieve
a better AI coverage through which the genetic potential of the
animals are expected to increase. Milk production being the major
requirement from cattle, the basic goal of genetic improvement
would be for milk production traits.
Objectives of NPCBB
| Radically
improving coverage of bovine population under organized breeding
programmes through AI using frozen semen |
| Delivery
of AI inputs at the doorstep of the farmer |
| Improvement
in quality of breeding bulls used |
| Strict
quality control of services and inputs |
| Optimum
capacity utilization in institutional infrastructure |
| Developing
synergies among major players |
| Putting
in place field recording and progeny testing programmes to
identify and propagate superior germplasm for genetic improvement |
| Training
and retraining of professionals and AI workers |
A
national seminar on “Frozen Semen Technology” was
organized under NPCBB at Dhoni farm from 4th to 6th December 2003.
About 200 delegates from various institutions/Livestock Development
Boards/Departments/ Universities from all over the country participated
in the seminar.
New
Schemes under NPCBB
Gosamvardini
It
is a statewide programme implemented by KLDB in collaboration
with State Animal Husbandry Department, under the National Project
for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding.
The
objective of the programme is to convert stationary AI centres
to mobile centres, with a view to provide AI service at the farmers
abode. As a part of this programme, telephone connections are
being given to about 800 Artificial Insemination centres of the
Animal Husbandry Department, through the Kerala Livestock Development
Board. Also these centres are provided with specially designed
metal crates with rubber padding to facilitate transport of the
cryocans to the farmer’s premises.
Field Performance Recording (GOREKHA)
A
statewide programme implemented by KLDB in collaboration with
State Animal Husbandry Department, under the National Project
for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding.
Objectives of GOREKHA
| Collecting
baseline information on performance of animals for assessing
current production situation |
| Assisting
farmers in making management decisions to improve the productivity
of their animals |
| Establishing
long term genetic improvement programme |
| Identifying
elite animals |
| Helping
farmers in culling decision and buying of animals |
Inauguration
of Gosuraksha Palakadu
Launching
of Ksheeradhara by Chief Minister – Thiruvananthapuram
Sri
Sharath Pawar – Union Minister Agriculture Handing over
HACCP Certificate to MD KLD Board
Euro
2007 in UK
Minister
releasing Buck Directory
P.K
Vasudevan Nair Releasing CD of Recommendations of National Seminar
to Neetha Chaudhari IAS – Joint Secretary Govt of India
Minister
Inaugurating Gosureksha Programme