Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Cow Breed Improvement in India

Availability of good bulls for breeding of good cows is unavoidable , whether AI is promoted or natural breeding is carried out.
It is more than 60 years that Govt of India has been very seriously implementing AI programs all over the country. But according to information available 20% cows and 10% buffaloes have only been reached by AI programs.
That means 80% cows and 90% buffaloes have to depend on natural breeding with available to commnity 'STRAY BULLS'.In India in Vedic tradition it is considered a great charitable duty to donate a Bull for free community service.Vedic ceremonies of Shoolgawaa and Vrishotsarg in which once an year community used to perform a yagna to select a good male calf for breeding , make a permanent mark by hot branding and then release such a Bull for free community service.
Over long period this practice got degenerated. But leaving male cows free to loiter around is still considered an act of public service.
Most of such bulls are unsuitable for breeding. Realising this fact Govt of India had decided to take up the program to castrate all stray Bulls. The statistics on the number of stray bulls castrated so far in India is not available. But the fact remains that the program for castrating of stray bulls in India has practically stayed only on paper.
Castrating a Bull is not an easy procedure. Under the circumstances all efforts to produce excellent bulls will not help the 80% cows and 90% buffaloes of India.
I wonder if there are any possibility of a noninvasive techniques by giving some medicine by feed or injection, the sperm production in a bull can be stopped. This can be considered as an alternative to Castrating of Stray Bulls.
I am proceeding with researching and preparing the details of performing the Vedic ceremonies of Shoolgawaa and Vrishotsarg in which once an year community used to perform a yagna to select a good male calf for breeding , make a permanent mark by hot branding and then release such a Bull for free community service.
I wonder if Cow lovers will like to comment on the issues raised and suggest possible practically implementable strategies.
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2 comments:

umang said...

Nice blog Sir. What exactly can be the reasons of not being able to carry out stray-bulls-castration program? Is it the inefficiency in govt. machinery or the procedure itself? Moreover, do we have enough 'good-bulls' to suffice for the needs of all Indian farmers?

Thanks

Subodh Kumar said...

Physically it is not easy to control a stray Bull. A tranqiliser shot should be used. Castrating an adult Bull is also a bigger operation. No injectible medicine appears to be available to extinguish sperm production in Bulls.