CHENNAI: Aavin will undertake separate missions under the Tamil Nadu Innovative Initiatives (TANII) to improve the reproductive efficiency, growth and milk-yielding capacity of cows, at a total cost of Rs 20 crore.
Under the first mission, 4,000 jersey crossbred calves will be selected from across the state to study ways to reduce the age of puberty, accelerate conception, ensure complete growth and improve their future milk-yielding capacity. It will be carried out at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
Making the announcement during the demand for grants for her department, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development C Vijayalakshmi said that the selected calves “will be provided with the required feed, deworming medicines and mineral mixtures. They will be impregnated using sex-sorted semen.”
The findings will subsequently be shared with dairy farmers to help increase milk production, the minister added.
Under the second mission, also to be carried out at Rs 10 crore, Aavin will identify 50,000 milch cows across the state facing fertility-related problems. Focus will then be given on improving their reproductive efficiency through nutrition management, mineral supplementation and veterinary intervention.
“Cows that have failed to conceive even after three attempts at artificial insemination, as well as those that have not conceived for a prolonged period, will be identified. They will be provided with the required veterinary support and feed. Their reproductive cycle will be streamlined through medical intervention to improve conception and reproductive efficiency,” Vijayalakshmi said.
The minister also announced that 100 unemployed persons would be trained in artificial insemination techniques to strengthen the availability of skilled manpower in the sector.