The Central Institute for Research on Cattle (CIRC) was founded as a nodal institution to monitor, coordinate and support all research and development projects for cattle improvement in the VII Five year Plan on 3rd November 1987 at Military Farms School & Research Centre, Meerut, by upgrading the status of All-India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cattle. The institute was conceived to take advantage of the achievements made in the AICRP and earlier crossbreeding experiments at organized farms and under field conditions for evolution of a national milch breed (Frieswal Project) from a reasonably large crossbred base (Sahiwal x Holstein-Friesian), which was a limiting factor under AICRP on Cattle. Keeping in view the importance of indigenous breeds, known for their adaptability and disease resistance qualities, Indigenous Breeds Project (IBP) was undertaken in collaboration with the SAUs, State Govt. and Non Government Organizations. Similarly, Field Progeny Testing (FPT) project was undertaken to bring about improvement in crossbred cattle at farmers` herd. After initial set up at Military Farm School and Research Centre, CIRC had been functional at Shastri Nagar and later on at Modipuram, Meerut, before it finally shifted to its present location occupying a 30 acres campus at Grass Farm Road, Meerut Cantt, where the Directorate`s own building has come up in the year 2000. The campus boasts of lush green lawns and delightful ambiance. Directorate undertakes research, coordination and consultancy on the improvement of cattle by employing latest strategic breeding and reproductive tools and works closely with universities and other specialist institutes. Since its establishment, the CIRC has played a vital role in the country`s cattle improvement programmes and in pursuit of research.
Read MoreCattle is one of the important livestock species of the country which forms integral part of the Indian agriculture since time immemorial. The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut is the nodal institution of the country for undertaking cattle research. Since its inception, the Institute is striving hard to undertake basic and applied research aiming to improve the production and productivity of cattle in the country. Under the All India Coordinated Research Programme on Cattle (AICRP on Cattle) the Institute has evolved a national milch breed of cattle FrieswalTM, a cross between Holstein Friesian (62.5%) and Sahiwal (37.5%) yielding 3628 Kg of milk in a mature lactation of 305-days. The FrieswalTM cattle has the genetic potential to produce more than 7000 Kg of milk with highest daily yield of 41 Kg. The Institute has also improved the milk production potential of crossbred cattle in four different agro-climatic regions of the country through associated herd field progeny testing program. The Indigenous Breeds Project of the AICRP aims to improve the productivity of important Indigenous cattle breeds Viz., Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal. ICAR-CIRC is also in the forefront in developing various technologies and processes for cattle development and diagnostic kits for cattle health management. Milk productivity of Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal has also been increased from 20-35%.
Read More
"Improvement of cattle for high productivity and profitability.
"Germplasm improvement and technology development for realizing enhanced productivity and profitability"
1. To undertake basic, applied and adaptive research on all aspects of cattle production and reproduction and to standardize package of practices.
2. To evolve a national milch breed of cattle "FRIESWAL", testing of crossbred bulls under field conditions and to undertake programme on genetic improvement of indigenous breeds of cattle.