Ongole, Ponganuru cow breeds to be promoted

Anantapur: The Department of Animal Husbandry is embarking on a programme aimed at preserving native breeds including Ongole bulls and Punganur cows by promoting surrogate motherhood and embryo transplantation in local cows.

Department Joint Director Dr B Sanyasi Rao told The Hans India that they had supplied 500 semen doses of native breeds including Ongole breed cows apart from embryo transplantation in surrogate mothers. 

Research on improving the native breeds also will be carried out by the department. The programme is aimed at improving, conserving and propagating indigenous cow breeds through IVF embryos transplantation and as well as artificial insemination. 

Farmers need to purchase the semen doses at Rs 1,000 per dose. Although there is no scheme to facilitate BPL farmers to undertake semen transplantation in their cows, farmers who can purchase the semen and raise native cows are being encouraged to purchase the semen doses. 

The department had supplied 500 doses of the semen to interested farmers. Ongole and Punganoor semen and embryo transplantation would be supplied to farmers who show interest. Research will be carried out on genetic upgradation of native breeds locally, says Sanyasi Rao.