State to preserve Ongole bulls: Joint Director Dr B Sanyasi Rao

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

Animal Husbandry Joint Director Dr B Sanyasi Rao told The Hans India that they would supply 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, he said and added 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 to Rs 2,000 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, he said. Sanyasi Rao said the department has kept ready 500 doses for supply to farmers.

Ongole and Ponganore semen and embryo transplantation would be supplied to farmers who will come forward, the joint director said and added research will be carried on genetic upgradation of native breeds locally.