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Achievements ICAR-CIRC, Meerut
The Central
Institute for Research on Cattle (CIRC) formerly known as Project Directorate
on Cattle (PDC) was established on 3rd November 1987 at Military
Farms School and Research Centre, Meerut by upgrading the status of All- India
Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cattle. Being a premiere Institute
solely working on the genetic improvement of cattle, it plays significant and
pivotal role in improving the cattle production. The
ICAR- CIRC conducts interdisciplinary
research in the field of cattle breeding,
feeding, management and reproduction to enhance productivity and profitability.
The Institute plan, coordinate and monitor the research projects on cattle and
serve as national data repository and provide consultancy for cattle production
and reproduction.
The
institute played significant role by providing superior male germplasm to the
stakeholders. The Institute help to produce high producing cattle through the
supply of superior progeny tested male germplasm. The production performance of
daughters born out of the semen doses supplied by the Institute is
comparatively better than the female cattle in other similar programmes. The
Institute provides training to the AI workers and farmers involved in cattle
rearing and thereby motivate the rural youths and to generate self-employment.
The institute also coordinates three important genetic improvement projects
through AICRP on cattle to increase the performance of cattle maintained under
both farm and field conditions along with suitable technologies for sustenance
of production and reproduction. The institute also acts as a key player in the
socio-economic upliftment of cattle owners by infusing superior germplasm in
the farmer’s herd with suitable feeding and management technologies for
enhancing the milk production and optimizing the reproduction.
AICRP
on CATTLE
The AICRP on cattle aims to improve the performance
of cattle maintained under farm and field conditions. Under the Frieswal
project, a national milch breed “Frieswal” was evolved using the facilities in
36 military dairy farms located at various agro climatic regions of the
country. Subsequently, the Indigenous Breeds
Project (IBP) was also started in collaboration with the State
Veterinary/Agricultural Universities, State Government, Non-Government
Organizations and Gaushalas. The Field Progeny Testing (FPT) project was
initiated to bring about improvement in crossbred cattle at farmers’ herd in
collaboration with the SAUs, State Govt. and Non-Government Organizations.
Continued
maintenance of Frieswal herd of elite cows would be required for production and
selection of bulls which can be used in FPT project where crossbreds are being
reared for milk production. The Indigenous Breeds Project (IBP) and Field
Progeny Testing programme (FPT) needs to be continued to improve the production
potential of both Indigenous and crossbred cattle of the country. As per objective
of long term project, the conservation and genetic improvement of all the
recognized indigenous cattle breeds of our country should continue. The progeny
testing and evaluation of a bull require minimum 5 to 5.5 years and this is the
only technique for producing genetically superior bulls. There is acute
shortage of progeny tested bulls in our country. In order to get a meaningful
result as envisaged by the objectives of the project, the FPT project needs to
be continued as a long term project for the genetic improvement of crossbred
cattle which contributes maximum milk production of our country.
The IBP project is being operated in three
indigenous cattle breeds viz., Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal in collaboration with
various SAUs and ICAR institutes for conservation, propagation and improvement
of these indigenous cattle breeds. Under these projects, semen doses of
genetically superior indigenous bulls are supplied to Gujarat, Haryana,
Uttarakhand and Punjab States for breeding the respective breeds of cattle. The
FPT programme is undertaken at four field units viz., GADVASU, Ludhiana, BAIF,
Pune, KVASU, Mannuthy and GBPUA&T, Pantnagar for the genetic improvement of
cattle maintained by the farmers.
Brief summary of achievements and initiatives made by ICAR-CIRC,
Meerut during 2017-20 are as follows:
During
the 13th Plan period, ICAR-CIRC, Meerut has made significant
achievements in
germplasm Production as it made availability of more than 20 Lakh doses
of Frieswal and 160708, 71436 and 88642 doses, respectively
of Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal indigenous breeds for meeting the breeding demand
of the country. Studies for improvement of semen quality through mineral
supplementation, survey for formulation of area specific mineral mixture,
optimization of superovulatory response, improvement on reproductive efficiency
of bovines, reduction in prevalence of mastitis were also done during the
period. Institute also obtained two design patents for resolving the
reproductive problems in bovines, developed and applied patents for six new
technologies in addition to three diagnostic methods. Developed a mobile app
“COOWLER” on management of thermal stress in cattle and also developed web
based software “SIReDAM” for real time data entry in AICRP on Cattle. Transferred three technologies viz., BLAD, CVM, CowCAM to
Agriinnovate for commercialization. Published nearly 69 research articles, 3 review papers, 5 popular articles, 5 books, 10
Hindi leaflets and 5 English leaflets. Conducted 15 trainings to nearly 1281
farmers on various aspects of advanced dairy cattle farming. Attended 14 Kisan
Melas and conducted health camps for treatment of cattle for infertility,
anestrus, mastitis, metritis etc. Also
distributed floor mats for cattle, CMT kits for detection of mastitis, mineral
mixture supplements, improved seed varieties of different crops and fodders.
Conducted 5 training programmes (1 ICAR WS; 3 MANAGE sponsored Certified Livestock Advisor trainings; 1 Model
training course) and
a national conference on “Livestock Improvement
for Sustainable Livestock Production”. Signed MoU with five National
Institutions / Universities of high repute and conducted more than 52 radio
school programmes on various aspects of cattle farming
for dissemination of scientific knowledge to the needy stakeholders.
Under the Frieswal Project of AICRP on
Cattle, successfully evolved “Frieswal” a national milch breed of crossbred
cattle (5/8 Holstein Friesian and 3/8 Sahiwal) yielding mature lactation milk production of 3628 kg and obtained the trademark “Frieswal”. Increased the
number of Frieswal cows to 20673 in 2017-18 (During the closure of Military
Farms) compared to 2305 in 1989 and also increased the number of elite Frieswal
cows to 992 in 2018-19 from 484 in 1989. Increased the 300 days milk production
of Frieswal cows from to 3340 kg in 2019 from 2774 kg in 1989 and 3308 kg in
2009-10. Established bull mother farm of Frieswal cattle at NDRI, Karnal with
nearly 200 elite cows for its conservation, genetic improvement and propagation.
Under the Indigenous breeds project, identified and registered about 18050 Gir, 6200 Kankrej
and 813 Sahiwal females in their respective breeding tracts. Produced 219823
frozen semen doses of Gir, 143482 doses of Kankrej and 174172 doses of Sahiwal
bulls and 160708, 71436 and 88642 doses, respectively are available for future
breeding. Produced a total of 5561, 2380 and 862 Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal
daughters, respectively. Increased the milk production by 36.69% (2563 kg in
2019 from 1875 kg in 2010) in Gir, 24.25% (1957 kg in 2019 from 1575 kg in
2010) in Sahiwal and 20.00% (2004 kg in 2019 from 1670 kg in 2010) in Kankrej
breeds of cattle. Also identified elite females yielding 3238 kg of milk in
Gir, 3553 kg in Kankrej and 3393 kg in Sahiwal cattle. Under the Field Progeny
Testing (FPT) Project, increased the
average first lactation 305 days milk yields of the Frieswal progenies under
field conditions by 56.59 % in KVASU (3066 kg in 2019 from 1958 kg in 1994 and
2463 kg in 2010), 40.10 % in GADVASU, (3780 kg in 2019 from 2698 kg in 1995 and
2904 kg in 2010), 9.76 % in BAIF (3216 kg in 2019 from 2930 kg in 1995 and 2922
kg in 2010) and 29.66 % in GBPUA&T unit (3235 kg in 2019 from 2495 kg in
2010).
Gist of the achievements and initiatives made during 13th
Plan is tabulated below.
|
Research |
AICRP
projects |
·
Three sub projects of AICRP on Cattle |
|
Institute
Projects |
·
Eighteen In-house
projects |
|
|
Externally
funded projects |
·
Five externally funded projects (DST&DBT) |
|
|
Inter-Institutional
projects |
·
Three Inter-Institutional projects |
|
|
Service
projects |
·
Three service projects |
|
|
Outputs
from research: publications;
products/ processes; technologies commercialized |
·
69 research articles ·
3 review papers ·
5 books ·
10 Hindi leaflets ·
5 English leaflets ·
3 technologies transferred to AgriInnovate India
for commercialization ·
7 patents filed for processes/methods/kits
developed |
|
|
Capacity Building Development (CPD) Initiatives |
Training |
Ø 1 ICAR Winter
School trainings Ø 3 Certified
Livestock Advisor trainings sponsored by Department of MANAGE approved by
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI. Ø 1 Model
training courses sponsored by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
GoI. |
|
New Initiatives |
Research,
Academic and Extension activities |
· Established
bull mother unit of Frieswal cattle of ICAR-CIRC, Meerut at NDRI, Karnal · Developed an
online data entry software SIReDAM for cattle data management in
collaboration with ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi · Signed 6 MOUs between
ICAR-CIRC and RAJUVAS, Bikaner; MPKV, Rahuri; CKU, Raipur; IIT, Roorkee;
IISWC, Dehradun and MIET, Meerut for academic and research collaborations. · Established
network with the farmers through Mobile Veterinary Extension services · Conducted
series of 52 radio Pathasala in collaboration with AIR Nazibabad · Developed Urea
Molases Mineral Blocks (UMMB) for supplementary feeding of minerals in Paudi
region of Uttarakhand State. |
|
Services Offered |
Providing
input to the cattle farmers and other stakeholders |
· Supply of male
germplasm of different Indigenous breeds of cattle and Frieswal catte. · As member of
verification committee, conducted verification of the newly proposed cattle
populations for registration as a breed. · Trained
farmers on production of vermi-compost as manure and supplied vermicompst to
needy stakeholders. · Testing of
genetic defects of young breeding bulls before their induction for semen
production · Conducted
awareness and sensitization programmes for dairy cattle farming under SCSP. |
|
Participation in Flagship programmes of GOI |
Swaccha
Bharat Abhiyan; Mera
Gaon Mera Gaurav (Village adoption); Cashless transactions; Digital India;
Skill India |
· Complying with
directives in totality ·
Institutionalizing all initiatives at the
institute · Ensuring
stakeholders’ participation
|
|
Quality Management System |
ISO
Certification |
· Institute has
become an ISO 9001:2015 organization for Research and development of cattle
for higher production and productivity. |
Research Achievements of XIII Plan (2017-20)
Germplasm Production
Made availability of more than 20 Lakh
doses of Frieswal and 160708, 71436 and 88642 doses,
respectively of Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal indigenous breeds for meeting the
breeding demand of the country.
Research
accomplishments
·
Mineral
supplementation (ppm/kg DM) of Cu (25), Mn (80) and Zn (80) as a single salt
and in combination improved semen quality.
·
Conducted
survey for formulation of area specific mineral mixture (ASMM) for Meerut
district.
·
Developed
supplementary feed formulation as Urea Molases Mineral Block (UMMB) licks for
the Uttarakhand State under the SCSP programme.
·
Optimized
the superovulatory response in cattle with pFSH: Sahiwal and Tharparker - 200-240 mg pFSH; Gir
and Kankrej cattle - 240-260 mg;
Frieswal – 400 mg.
·
Successfully
demonstrated ETT at farmers doorstep by producing two live Sahiwal calves and
two additional pregnancies.
·
Improved
the reproductive efficiency of bovines under the Farmers First Programme. Of
6212 bovines examined, 42% were found with reproductive problems which reduced
to 32% resulting in 600 additional calving with additional milk production with
a lactation yield of 2500 lit.
·
Reduced
the prevalence of mastitis in bovines (N=300) from 42 to 6.36% through management
interventions viz., teat dipping for first 100 days of calving, CMT screening
and providing floor mat.
·
Published
nearly 69 research articles, 3 review papers, 5 popular articles, 5 books, 10
Hindi leaflets and 5 English leaflet.
Developed
and applied patent for six new technologies
·
Colour
based test for differentiation of Cow vs. Goat milk/meat samples
·
An
in-house built LAMP assay for rapid detection of cow components adulterated in
buffalo milk/meat
·
Easy
and economical Protocol for BLAD testing in bulls and all the technologies have
been filed for patenting.
·
Single
tube tetra ARMS PCR-based assay for genotyping FMD virus receptor in cattle
·
Development
of tetra primer displacement PCR assay for detection of complex vertebral
malformation (CVM) in cattle and
·
ICAR-CIRC
COWCAM kit for detecting cow milk adulteration in camel milk or vice versa at
the level of 1%.
Diagnostic methods
developed
·
Identify
nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within HSP 70.1 and HSP 90AB1
·
Double
PCR RFLP (DPR) methodology for screening promoter region of stressor genes in
cattle,
·
RT
LAMP assay for profiling of bovine HSP70 during thermal stress in cattle, a
single tube tetra PCR based strategy for genotyping FMD host receptor tropism
in cattle
ICT developed
Technology transfer
·
Frozen
semen technology and vermi-composting technology have been exploited to a large extent to supply the
frozen semen doses and vermi-compost to the needy stakeholders and scientific
knowledge on water budgeting has been given to the cattle farmers for
sustainable utilization of the limited available water resources.
·
Developed and transferred BLAD, CVM, CowCAM
technologies to Agriinnovate for commercialization.
Extension
·
Conducted
15 trainings to the farmers and needy stakeholders on various aspects of
advanced dairy cattle farming covering breeding, nutrition, management,
reproduction and health.
·
A
total of 1281 farmers were trained during the above mentioned 15 training
programmes
·
Attended
14 Kisan Mela organized by different agencies and demonstrated and trained a
sizable number of farmers on the activities and technologies developed by the
Institute.
·
Regular
visit to the villages adopted under MGMG and FARMERS FIRST programme.
·
Distributed
floor mats for cattle, CMT kits for detection of mastitis, mineral mixture
supplements, improved seed varieties of different crops and fodders.
·
Conducted
health camps and treated the cattle for infertility, anestrus, mastitis,
metritis and improved the reproductive and health status of animals.
Other achievements
·
Conducted
one ICAR Winter School training, 3 Manage sponsored Certified Livestock Advisor
trainings, one Model training course.
·
Conducted
a National Conference on “Livestock Improvement for Sustainable Livestock
Production”.
·
Signed
MoU with five National Institutions / Universities of high repute viz., RAJUVAS,
Bikaner, MPKV, Rahuri, Kamdhenu Chattisgarh University, Durg, IIT, Roorkee
and MIET, Meerut for research and
academic collaborations.
·
Conducted
more than 52 radio school programmes on various aspects of cattle farming for
dissemination of scientific knowledge to the needy stakeholders
Capacity building
Provided
regular training to the farmers on various advanced aspects of dairy cattle
management and also conduct training programmes for scientists, academicians,
technical officers and students under HRD activities.
|
S.No. |
Year |
Trainings attended by CIRC staff |
Trainings organised at CIRC Meerut |
|||||||||
|
|
|
Scientists |
Technical |
Admn |
SSS |
Total |
For ICAR staff |
For Other |
Total |
No. of participants |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ICAR |
Non ICAR |
Total |
|||
|
1 |
2017-18 |
8 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
27 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
29 |
37 |
|
2 |
2018-19 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
17 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
22 |
15 |
37 |
|
3 |
2019-20 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
8* |
12* |
* include only MTC
participants
AICRP
ON CATTLE
Frieswal
Project
Ø Successfully
evolved “Frieswal” a national milch breed of crossbred cattle (5/8 Holstein
Friesian and 3/8 Sahiwal) yielding mature
lactation milk production of 3628 kg with an age at first calving of 970 days
(31.9 months).
Ø Obtained trademark
“Frieswal” for the crossbred milch breed.
Ø Increased the
number of Frieswal cows to 20673 in 2017-18 (During the closure of Military
Farms) compared to 2305 in 1989.
Ø Increased the
number of elite cows to 992 in 2018-19 from 484 in 1989.
Ø Increased the
300 days milk production from to 3340 kg
in 2019 from 2774 kg in 1989 and 3308 kg in 2009-10
Ø Decreased the
age at first calving to 967 days in 2019 from 1040 days in 2004 and 975 days in
2009-10.
Ø During the period
from 2009-10 to 2018-19, produced 28,24,589 number of Frozen semen doses and
distributed 15,62,412 doses to the needy stakeholders and a cumulative balance
of 20,55,322 doses are available for future breeding.
Ø Established the
bull mother farm of Frieswal cattle with nearly 200 elite cows for its
conservation, genetic improvement and propagation.
Indigenous Breeds Project
Ø
Identified and registered about 18050 Gir, 6200 Kankrej and 813
Sahiwal females in the breeding tracts of respective breed.
Ø Produced
219823 frozen semen doses of Gir, 143482 doses of Kankrej and 174172 doses of
Sahiwal bulls and 160708, 71436 and 88642 doses, respectively are available for
future breeding.
Ø
Produced a total of 5561, 2380 and 862 Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal
daughters, respectively.
Ø
Increased the milk production by 36.69% (2563 kg in 2019 from
1875 kg in 2010) in Gir, 24.25% (1957 kg in 2019 from 1575 kg in 2010) in
Sahiwal and 20.00% (2004 kg in 2019 from 1670 kg in 2010) in Kankrej breeds of
cattle.
Ø Identified
elite females yielding 3238 kg of milk in Gir, 3553 kg in Kankrej and 3393 kg
in Sahiwal cattle.
Field Progeny Testing Project
Ø Increased the average first lactation 305 days milk
yields of the Frieswal progenies under field conditions by 56.59 % in KVASU
(3066 kg in 2019 from 1958 kg in 1994 and 2463 kg in 2010), 40.10 % in GADVASU,
(3780 kg in 2019 from 2698 kg in 1995 and 2904 kg in 2010), 9.76 % in BAIF
(3216 kg in 2019 from 2930 kg in 1995 and 2922 kg in 2010) and 29.66 % in
GBPUA&T unit (3235 kg in 2019 from 2495 kg in 2010).
Ø Improved the reproduction efficiency of the Frieswal
progenies under field conditions by decreasing the average age at first calving
(AFC) of the Frieswal progenies by 7.22 % in KVASU (1054 days in 2019 from 1136
days in 1994 and 1109 days in 2010), 12.5 % in GADVASU (1043 days in 2019 from
1192 days in 1995 and 1198 days in 2010), 4.4 % in BAIF (957 days in 2019 from
1001 days in 2010 and 976 days in 1995) and 4.96 % in GBPUA&T unit (1092
days in 2019 from 1149 days in 2010).
The research activities
would be undertaken under following proposed broad research programmes of the
Institute:
1.
Genetic improvement of other important
indigenous breeds of cattle viz., Tharparkar, Rathi etc. using conventional and modern
breeding techniques.
2.
Large scale production of quality cattle
germplasm.
3.
Identification
of genetic markers for increasing the productive and reproductive performance
of cattle.
4.
Application
for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) for multiplication of elite females.
5.
Nutritional
and managemental interventions for increasing the productivity of cattle.
6.
Dissemination
of technologies and impact analysis.
7.
Comparative economics of productivity of
Indian cattle breeds vis-à-vis crossbred cattle.