Centre lines up scheme to enhance milk quality

In order to improve the quantity and quality of milk and augment farmers’ income, the government has chalked out the National Milk Recording Programme (NMRP). The main objectives of the NMRP are to: locate superior germplasm in breeding tracts and milk pockets, introduce systematic milk recording and promote breeding with high genetic merit or HGM bulls, calculate genetic gain among bovines, collect and publish production and breeding records of registered animals, and create awareness among farmers.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will be the implementing agency for this project that will be executed for two years- that is, till the end of 2025-26. The NDDB will implement the project with the help of participating agencies (PAs) like milk unions, State animal husbandry departments, veterinary colleges, Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutions, trusts, and NGOs, official sources told Bizz Buzz.

The PAs must have their own artificial insemination and milk recording networks or must be willing to establish recording networks in the selected area.

PAs and project areas would be identified by the NDDB based on cattle and buffalo breeds available in the area, milch animal population, and the existing network of the agency. The NDDB will train the field personnel, release funds, and monitor the project activities in the field.

The NMRP would be implemented across the country in modular form. As many as 45 milk recording units would be identified wherein milk recording could be conducted by the PAs concerned.

In the dairy sector, performance recording of bovines forms an integral part of scientific animal husbandry practices for the ultimate benefit of livestock owners. The performance comparison of various breeds in different geographical areas and in different conditions provides valuable information on breed compatibility, cost economics of production, and impact of various interventions.

Performance recording also serves as the basis for selection of animals for scientific breeding to produce next generation offspring. Progeny testing and pedigree selection programmes are already under implementation. These are a source of animal-wise reliable performance data on milk production, milk composition, and reproduction aspects of cattle and buffaloes. The data at present is used in the selection programme and implementation of genomic selection for heifers and bulls, the sources said.