Parliament Question: Promotion of indigenous cow breeds and A2 milk certification

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2946 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH 2026 PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS COW BREEDS AND A2 MILK CERTIFICATION 2946 SHRI BABUBHAI JESANGBHAI DESAI: DR. BHIM SINGH: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to State: (a) whether Government is implementing any special scheme or programme for the conservation, genetic improvement, production, value addition and marketing of indigenous cow breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar, Haryana, Kankrej, Ongole, Devni, Nagauri and Lal Sindhi, particularly in view of the nutritional and health benefits attributed to A2 milk in Gujarat; (b) if so, the details thereof, including financial allocations and outcomes achieved; and (c) whether any national standard, certification or traceability mechanism has been introduced or proposed to ensure breed purity, promote A2 milk branding, incentivise farmers and enhance the population of indigenous breeds, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) and (b) In order to complement the efforts made by the State for the conservation , genetic improvement, production, value addition and marketing of indigenous cow breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Deoni, Nagauri and Red Sindhi the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission with focus on development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers. Rashtriya Gokul Mission is leading to increase in population of high yielding animals of bovines including indigenous breeds of cattle and buffalo. Following major interventions have been undertaken under Rashtriya Gokul Mission for development and conservation of indigenous breeds across the country including Gujarat; (i) Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme: The programme aims at enhancing AI coverage and to deliver quality Artificial Insemination Services (AI) at farmer’s doorstep with semen of high genetic merit bulls including indigenous breeds. As on date 9.67 crore animals have been covered, 15.29 crores Artificial Insemination have been performed and 5.74 crores farmers benefitted under the programme across the country including 58.59 lakh animals have been covered, 95.70 lakh Artificial Insemination performed and 34.62 lakh farmers benefitted in Gujarat. (ii) Sex Sorted Semen: Sex sorted semen production has been introduced in the country for production of only female calves upto 90% accuracy. Use of sex sorted semen is game changer not only enhancing milk production but also limiting stray cattle population. For the first time in India, facilities established under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission have successfully produced sex-sorted semen of indigenous cattle breeds. These facilities have been set up at five government semen stations located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, three private semen stations are alsocontributing to the production of sex-sorted semen doses. So far, 1.35 crore sex-sorted semen doses have been produced using high genetic merit bulls, including bulls from indigenous breeds. Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen: Sex sorted semen of indigenous breeds is promoted under the programme. Under the component incentive upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen on assured pregnancy is made available to farmers. Launch of Indigenously Developed Sex sorted semen production technology: Indigenously developed sex sorted semen production technology has been launched and with this technology cost of sex sorted semen is reduced from Rs 800 to Rs 250/ dose. This technology is game changer for our farmers as sex sorted semen is available at reasonable rates. Indigenous sex sorted semen production technology is playing important role in increasing indigenous female cattle population in the country. (iii) Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRI’s): MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep. As on date, 42096 MAITRIs have been trained and inducted across the country including 772 MAITRIs of Gujarat. (iv) Implementation of in-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: for the first time in the country, bovine IVF technology has been promoted for development and conservation of indigenous breeds including Gir and Kankrej breed of Gujarat. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has established 24 IVF laboratories for promotion of indigenous breeds in the country including 3 IVF labs made operational in Gujarat. From these labs 28579 viable embryos have been produced and out of this, 16210 embryos have been transferred and 2612 calves born. Accelerated Breed Improvement programme using IVF technology is initiated to deliver technology at farmers’ doorstep. Incentive at rate Rs 5000/ assured pregnancy is made available to farmers under the component. Development of indigenous breeds is promoted under the programme. Under the programme so far 7957 embryos transferred, 1588 pregnancies established and 1149 calves born across the country including Gujarat. Launch of Indigenous Culture Media: The indigenous media for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), has been launched for further promotion of IVF technology in the country. This indigenous media, offers a cost- effective alternative to expensive imported media. With the use of media, cost of embryo production is reduced from Rs 5000 to Rs 2000/ embryo (v) All indigenous bovine breeds registered by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) are covered under Rashtriya Gokul Mission including Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Deoni, Nagauri and Red Sindhi. Further, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission pedigree selection and progeny testing programme is implemented for production of High Genetic Merit bulls for use in breeding programme. Cattle breeds namely Gir and Sahiwal are covered under Progeny Testing Programme and Tharparkar, Rathi, Hariana, Kankrej and Gaolao are covered under Pedigree Selection Programme. The financial allocations and outcomes achieved under the component is given in the following table; Total Allocation under RGM for Progeny No of High Genetic Merit bulls produced for Testing and Pedigree selection Programme use in breeding programme (Rs in crore) 310.26 4620(vi) Strengthening of semen stations to achieve qualitative and quantitative improvement in semen production including in semen of indigenous breeds. So far strengthening of 48 semen stations have been sanctioned including 6 semen stations in Gujarat. (vii) Under the scheme fertility camps, milk yield competition, calf rallies, farmers training programme, seminars and workshop, conclaves etc to create awareness among the farmers about importance of indigenous bovine breeds have been organized. Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission a total amount of Rs 179.37 crore has been released to Gujarat during the last 3 years and current year for implementation of the scheme. With the coordinated efforts in implementation of schemes and measures by Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India and the States/UTs, the Milk production in the country has increased by 69.41 % over the past 11 years from 146.3 million metric tonnes during 2014-15 to 247.87 million metric tonnes during 2024-25. During the same period the per capita availability of milk is increased by 52.03% from 319 grams per day during 2014-15 to 485 gram per day during 2024-25. Overall productivity of cattle and buffaloes has increased by more than 36.63% between 2014-15 and 2024-25 which is highest productivity growth rate in the World. In Gujarat the total productivity of Bovines has increased from 5.27 kilograms per animal per day in 2014- 15 to 6.48 kilograms per animal per day in 2024-25 that is by 22.96 %. The productivity of the indigenous and non-descript cattle has increased from 4.19 kilograms per animal per day in 2014-15 to 5 kilograms per animal per day in 2024-25 that is by 19.33%. The productivity of the buffaloes has increased from 4.96 kilograms per animal per day in 2014-15 to 5.66 kilograms per animal per day in 2024-25 that is by 14.11%. Milk production in Gujarat has increased from 11.42 million metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 18.88 million metric tonnes in 2024-25 that is by 65.32% during the last 11 years. (c) The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India along with NDDB has developed database named as “Bharat Pashudhan”.This database has been developed utilizing a unique 12- digit Tag ID allocated to each livestock animal including information on breed of animal and so far 36.74 crore animals have been registered on the database including 4.72 crore indigenous cattle and 11.46 crore indigenous buffaloes. Further, mechanism for livestock product traceability has been developed under National Digital Livestock Mission. Genomic chip – Gau chip for cattle and Mahish chip for buffalo have been developed for assessing genetic merit of bovines including testing breed purity. High Genetic Merit bulls produced under Progeny Testing Programme and Pedigree selection programme are tested for breed purity using genomic chip. ****