Himachal Govt to launch project to propagate Murrah Buffalo

Himachal  Pradesh  Govt would  set up central sponsored   Rs.  506.45 Lakhs  cost  murrah buffalo farm    for     Propagation  of genes of   Murrah Buffalo to  produce enhanced quality of fertile and disease-free bovine breeds which in-turn will  ensure high quality nutrient rich  dairy products to customers in Himachal and adjoining states said Virender Kanwar Animal Husbandry Minister . .  “Murrah” buffaloes  popularly called the “Black Gold” is    highly suitable for professional & organized dairy farming   for yielding highest milk production in India. The state govt will develop  murrah buffalo breeding farm in   4  hac., well connected, irrigated land in   Burnoh in una   districts of the State under the aegis of Himachal Pradesh Livestock & Poultry Development Board   for Production of High Yielding  genetically elite, pure and disease-free breed of Murrah buffaloes.

The central idea of the farm  is to provide the bovine breeders with an unadulterated bovine frozen semen for artificial insemination (AI) from elite pure bulls to produce high-yielding calves.  The native  breeds which has been nationally recognized as an ‘indigenous breed “by   National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) karnal because of its distinct characteristics constitutes  about 359979    (55%) of the total 646565 buffaloes  population in the state said Virender Kanwar Animal Husbandry Minister.

The state govt will set up   3 ultra modern sheds  at the initial cost of around 75 lakhs    to rear 50 high genetic merit, diseases tested buffaloes  (30 adult and 20 heifers)   at  Murrah  Breeding Farm Burnoh . The Freshly calved Superior high pedigreed  30 Himachali adult female buffaloes  in first or second lactation and simultaneously 20   elite  heifers   thoroughly tested as disease-free by the testing agencies will be purchased   in 2 batches of 15 animals and simultaneously 10 heifers in each batch with an estimated cost of around 36  lakhs rupees .

Each batch will be procured at an interval of 5 to 6 months of time frame. The procurement of animals will  be made  from Government Buffalo farms, private farms/farmers whose animals are registered in Cattle Herd Registration Scheme (CHRS) said Virender Kanwar Animal Husbandry Minister  
The state  govt will produce   elite/ pedigreed Murrah Buffalo Bulls for use at Sperm Station in the State to provide  high grade semen to the farmer’s buffaloes through the already existing A.I. network of the Department and  surplus semen  will be exported to the adjoining states like Haryana , Punjab , Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to meet the growing demands of    murrah buffaloes sperms   in the region said Virender Kanwar Animal Husbandry Minister  

Since the 1960s, Murrah bulls have been taken from India to Bulgaria, Brazil, China and several East Asian countries to help in efforts to improve their native breeds and increase milk yields.  Under the project state govt will   provide surplus high pedigreed Murrah Buffalo Heifers/Adults/Bulls on sale to the farmers for commercial use within and outside the state in areas like  Punjab, Haryana and Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh.etc where it is   important source of livelihood for villagers and is  is a symbol of wealth for their keeper.
Murrah buffaloes, marked out by their distinctive tightly curled horns and massive and stocky build, are famous around the world for their high milk yields.  Average milk production is 2200 litres in a lactation period of 310 days  .The daily lactation of elite milch buffalo  Murrah in Peak Period is    1 4 to 15 litres but upto 31.5 Kg has also been recorded  .The fat percentage in its milk is  around 7.5 per cent   said Virender Kanwar, Animal Husbandry Minister . 
Tick-borne disease resistant and capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions  can thrive on any crop residue in absence of concentrates during drought. Estimated to cost Rs.50 lakhs  , the farm will have four open country yards  hygienic sheds for rearing buffaloes ,bulls, calves, and heifers to provide natural living environment and grazing facility .
 It will be equipped with scientific waste management and rainwater harvesting facilities as well as 15 lakh cost  fodder farm .
In order to reduce the operational cost of dairy farms, own forage and silage preparation from green fodder crops will be practiced to  provide  fresh grass, grains and other nutritional food to the buffaloes .
 The fodder production will be undertaken in  farm  land   with an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh under the project   to reduce the cost of rearing the animals so as to make the project economically viable and the dung is to be used as organic fertilizer manure for green fodder cultivation. Surplus green fodder is proposed to be utilized for silage production to be used in lean periods in order to ensure  good health  said Virender Kanwar Animal Husbandry Minister.