RECOMMENDATION OF NATIONAL SEMINAR ON CATTLE AND BUFFALO BREEDING POLICY – PERSPECTIVE – INDIGENOUS NON-DESCRIPTIVE HELD ON 23RD AND 24TH DECEMBER 2004 AT GREAT EASTERN HOTEL, KOLKATA

The Breeding Policy for Cattle and Buffalo aims to increase the sustainable production of milk in the country. The recommendations of the National Seminar on Cattle and Buffalo Breeding Policy – Perspective – Indigenous Non-Descriptive held on 23-24 December 2004 at Kolkata were: -

1. Breeding Policy for Non-Descriptive Cattle and Buffalo is to be considered keeping in view the agro-climatic condition of the region.

2. Upgradation of low yielding non-descript cattle with indigenous milch breeds.

3. Inter-se-breeding amongst crossbred cattle with exotic inheritance using pedigreed / proven bulls.

4. Establishment of nucleus herd of indigenous breeds for production of breeding bulls.

5. Indigenous buffaloes to be upgraded with high quality indigenous pedigreed / proven bulls.

6. The Breeding policy of the State / Union Territories should be sustainable as well as affordable.

7. Farmers' preference to be taken into consideration in framing the Breeding Policy formulation.

8. A standard is to be set up for the procurement and supply of semen of different breeds/ categories of cattle for breeding purpose.

9. Monitoring cell for certification of Sperm Stations and bulls for production of Frozen Semen should be established at State and Central level and only Certified Semen should be used for Artificial Insemination.

10. Long term plan should be chalked out to ensure availability of breeding bulls.

11. In general, the house was in favour of continuing the crossbreeding with exotic inheritance where the farmers are in a position to maintain the progeny of exotic inheritance.

12. A reliable data-base should be developed with regards to all the details of the different categories of cattle, their number, characteristics, genetic make-up, germplasm, the institutional identity where they are being preserved and / or conserved and so on.

13. A molecular Biological Laboratory should be developed for screening of breeding bulls in the State and Veterinarians must be trained for such work.

14. A suitable and effective Act is to be framed to dispose-off the stray bulls to ensure implementation of the Breeding Policy.

15. Periodical Review of the Breeding Policy should be taken up by the Government.