Dairy-based Livelihoods
59
governments have to ensure that such basic
facilities are not only set up but run reliably
to ensure a steady supply of reagents so
that quality semen production continues
unhindered.
State Department of Animal Husbandry,
the milk cooperatives and the NGOs such
as BAIF, JK Trust, etc., arrange AI services.
State livestock development agencies are
being set up as autonomous bodies to offer
services in animal breeding in the form of
procurement, production and distribution
of breeding inputs (such as semen and
liquid nitrogen), training and promotional
activities and so on. So do the trained private
sector AI technicians for a fee. Most govern-
ment AI centres are still stationary due to
deficiency of manpower and transport facil-
ity. The conception rate under AI is poor
(reported rates of 35 per cent) though some
experts and stakeholders participating in the
Round Table on smallholder dairy farming
mention much lower rates at 18 per cent to
20 per cent; the most important reason for
low conception rate is lack of well trained
staff and their inability to adhere to com-
mon protocols and operating procedures.
Follow up on inseminated animals, preg-
nancy follow up and also treatment for
infertility are hardly available under the
government’s extension services.
NGOs and also dairy cooperatives pro-
vide AI services at the farmers’ doorstep
with comparatively better performance in
terms of frequency and quality of services
delivered. Apart from doorstep delivery of
AI services through technically well- trained
local resource persons, a regular follow up is
instrumental in achieving 45 per cent to 52
per cent conception rate by BAIF, Sahayog
and a few other private players (refer case
studies 4.1 and 4.2 on pages 76 and 79 respec-
tively). BAIFmentions that with technology
improvement, pregnancy after AI can be
confirmed by the first month instead of the
third month, as is largely tested now. The
feed can be accordingly provided to the
milch animals, thus saving feed cost.
Farmers are also demanding sexed semen
due to the advantages of 90 per cent guaran-
teed female calves, faster growth of produc-
tive herd, calves with proven genetic potential
etc. Large semen-producing companies like
ABS, Semex, CRV etc., are making inroads
into the Indianmarket with such technology.
TheGovernment of APwhich identifieddairy
farming as one of the key sectors to achieve
double-digit-inclusive growth has proposed
to subsidise sexed semen by 50 per cent,
since each straw costs
`
1500 which is 40
times more than the conventional semen.
The Government also proposes to pilot
in selected areas with selected herds in an
organised way under the supervision of
veterinarians to document results.
6
Different stakeholders in the Round
Table emphasised on the need for a breeding
policy with different breeds coming in and
indiscriminate breeding practices by private
players. Effective regulatory mechanismhas
to be put in place by the state governments.
Calf rearing programmes
Growth phase of the cows is confined to the
first two years of their life. It is important
that the calf is given nutritious feed in the
form of concentrates or fodder right from
its fourth month of birth. This will ensure
a good milk yield when the calf becomes
a cow. If the animal is introduced to the
feeding schedule after six months of birth,
the desired effect may not be to the full
extent. The calf, depending upon its body
weight/breed consumes around 1600 kgs
of concentrate. This amount can be sub-
stantially reduced if good quality fodder
is available. On an average, it is assumed
that the calf comes to puberty at around
18th–20th month of birth and becomes
a cow by calving for the first time around
the 28th–29th month of birth, if managed
properly.
6
Achieving DoubleDigit Inclusive Growth: A
Rolling Plan 2015–16. Government of Andhra Pradesh,
2015.
