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- Published: June 3, 2023 22:11
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh aims to become an exemplary model in the context of the White Revolution, as envisioned by the UP government led by Yogi Adityanath. The foundation of this revolution will be the Mission Million Sexed Artificial Insemination (AI/Artificial Insemination) – a technique where the offspring from artificial insemination will predominantly be female calves, with a probability of up to 90 percent.
The technique will lead to an increase in milk production; to provide a permanent solution to the issue of unproductive cattle.
Notably, there will be several benefits of this technique in the future. It will involve the selection of healthy animals only for AI, and the complete genealogy of the bull whose semen is used for AI will also be known. As a result, the female calves born will inherit the desirable traits from their parents, leading to the development of superior breeds.
Within two to three years, there will be a significant improvement in milk production. Additionally, there will be fewer male calves born and the ones that are born will also belong to better breeds. Consequently, both their demand and price for breeding requirements will increase. In a way, this will be a significant step towards finding a sustainable solution to the issue of unproductive cattle.
The dairy sector holds immense potential in terms of employment and economic development
According to Dr. Rakesh Kumar Shukla, the state president of the Uttar Pradesh Veterinary Service Association, the dairy sector is an area of great potential in terms of employment at the local level and development of the country. Approximately 8 crore families in India are associated with this sector, which is growing at a rate of around 8.9 percent annually.
He said, “The current value of this sector is approximately $124.93 billion, and it is estimated to reach $227.53 billion by 2030. Thus, the dairy sector is a vast field with extensive possibilities in terms of employment and economic contributions.”
Improved healthcare and quality breeding can lead to the success of the White Revolution in UP
According to Dr. B.K. Singh of Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry Development Council in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh is the highest milk-producing state with the largest population. Increasing awareness about health and improved economic conditions will further enhance these opportunities.
He believes that through quality healthcare and breeding practices, Uttar Pradesh can become a flagbearer of the White Revolution not only in the country but also globally. Consequently, this sector has the potential to generate more employment opportunities and contribute significantly to the state and national economy.
A brief about the working of the technique
According to Dr. Sanjeev Srivastava of the Central Animal Breeding Institute, the weight of sperm in male animals varies based on their activity level. Some active sperms are heavier than others. Through the spermatozoa technique, active spermatozoa are separated based on their weight.
Afterward, when they are placed on a special machine, the active sperms for X and Y chromosomes become separated. They are preserved separately using the frozen semen technique. With the help of this technique, it is possible to selectively produce offspring through artificial insemination.
In traditional AI or natural reproduction, the ratio of male to female offspring is 50:50. With this new technique, only female offspring will be produced, and the likelihood of this exceeds 90 percent. By using this technique, it will be possible to increase the number of females and double the milk production in a few years.