3-member delegation also visits Patiala district to observe success of Murrah Progeny Testing project
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, February 18-
A high-profile delegation from New Zealand, comprising Professor Garry Udy from MPI, Prof Nicolas Lopez from Massey University, and Dr David Hayman from TRG/ABS, along with Dr RO Gupta from NDDB, on Tuesday, met with Principal Secretary of PAH department Rahul Bhandari to discuss mutual collaboration in the animal husbandry sector, with a special focus on animal breeding and small-holder dairy systems.
Rahul Bhandari briefed the delegation on the ongoing initiatives under the National Dairy Plan-1, which was launched in July 2013. He said that the project focuses on improving genetic merit in cattle and buffalo populations through progeny testing, genetic evaluation, and selective breeding.
Key objectives of the project include producing high genetic merit (HGM) bulls for semen stations, establishing a robust system for genetic evaluation of young bulls, bull dams, and bull sires, and achieving steady genetic progress in milk, fat, SNF (solid-not-fat), and protein yields in cattle and buffalo populations.
Bhandari said that currently, the project is being implemented across 160 institutions in three districts of Punjab including Patiala, Sangrur, and Barnala.