Will prioritise use of sex-sorted semen for cattle, says minister

India will prioritise the use of sex sorted semen for artificial insemination to improve the quality of livestock and thereby enhance milk productivity, said Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh.

He said this on the occasion of National Milk Day, which honours the legacy of Verghese Kurien, Father of the White Revolution in India.

Sexed semen is specially processed semen of bulls from which ‘Y’ chromosomes in sperm cells — which lead to the birth of a male calf — are either removed through a ‘sorting’ process or killed. Semen which has only ‘X’ chromosomes ensure that a female calf is born. The process is used because male calves are considered a burden as they cannot produce milk.

“The use of sex sorted semen technology will lead to the birth of female calves, which will boost milk production. Presently, the usage of the technology in India is at 35 per cent, which will be subsequently increased to 70 per cent. Developed countries are using the technology at hundred percent. India increased its milk production annually at the rate of 6 percent, whereas developed countries increase it at 2 percent rate annually,” he said.

Singh said, “Foot and mouth diseases in the livestock is a challenge and the government is working towards their vaccination. The government aims to eradicate foot and mouth disease by 2030 and would then export our dairy products.”

“The Animal Husbandry Ministry is also working closely with the AYUSH Ministry to find solutions to the treatment of cattles through Ayurveda. I urge people to make cooperative societies and increase milk productivity,” Singh said.