Genetic improvement in bovines is a long term activity and Government of India has initiated a major programme “National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding” (NPCBB) from October 2000 over a period of ten years, in two phases each of five years, with an allocation of Rs 402 crore for Phase–I. In order to consolidate gains made during Phase-I, Phase-II has been initiated from Dec 2006 with an allocation of Rs 775.87 crore. The NPCBB envisages genetic up gradation on priority basis with a focus on development and conservation of important indigenous breeds. The project envisages 100% grant-in-aid to Implementing Agencies.

• The Objectives of the scheme is to:

  1. Arrange delivery of vastly improved artificial insemination service at the farmers door-step.
  2. Bring all breedable females among cattle and buffalo under organized breeding through artificial insemination or natural service by high quality bulls within a period of 10 years.
  3. Undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle and buffaloes so as to improve the genetic makeup as well as their availability.

• Components

  1. streamlining storage and supply of Liquid Nitrogen by sourcing supply from industrial gas manufacturers and setting up bulk transport and storage systems for the same,
  2. 3 photo introduction of quality bulls with high genetic merit,
  3. promotion of private mobile AI service for doorstep delivery of AI,
  4. conversion of existing stationary government A.I. centres into mobiles centres,
  5. quality control and certification of bulls and services at sperm stations, semen banks and training institutions,
  6. induction of breeding bulls for natural service in the areas not under AI coverage , and
  7. institutional restructuring by way of entrusting the job of managing production and supply of genetic inputs as well as Liquid Nitrogen to a specialized autonomous and professional State Implementing Agency.

• Progress of the Scheme:

  At present 28 States and one UT are participating under the project. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 398.36 crore has been released to these States upto 2007-08. During current financial year RE of Rs 89.70 crore has been made available under the scheme and so far an expenditure of Rs 86.72 crore has been made.

• Constitution of State Implementing Agencies (SIAs)

  Since inception of the project in October, 2000, 27 SIAs have been constituted under the project in 28 States. These agencies have professional approach in implementing the project. In case of small States, which are unable to constitute viable SIAs, funds have been released to the State Governments for implementation of the project.

• Increase in coverage of breedable animals:

  Semen production in the country has increased from 22 million straws (1999-2000) to 44 million straws (2007-2008) and the number of inseminations has increased from 20 million to 41 million. As per the impact analysis report submitted by NABARD, overall conception rate has increased from 20% to 35%.




Table 1: Performance of AI centres

Agency	No. of AIC	AI in Million	No. of AI per centre/year
Government	47865	29.59	511
Private AI workers	9996	-	-
Co-operative	11842	10.00	844
NGO	1638	0.41	249
Total	71341	40.00	560








Table 2: Performance of semen stations

Agency	Semen stations	No. of Bulls	Semen production in lakh	Bulls per station	Doses produced per station in lakh
Government/SIA	37	1608	224.30	43	6.06
NDDB, Dairy coop, NGO and private	12	1103	222.20	92	18.51
Total	49	2711	446.50	46	9.11

• Evaluation of semen stations:

  In order to attain qualitative and quantitative improvement in semen production, Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) was constituted on 20.5.2004 by the Department for evaluation of semen stations once in two years. CMU has submitted its report for 2007-08. State wise distribution of semen station with grades awarded is given in table 3.





Table 3: State wise distribution of semen stations with the grades awarded


Sr. No.	State	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C	Not graded NG	Not evaluated NE	Total Stations
		80 and above	66 to 79	50 to 65	Below 49	NE
1	Andhra Pradesh	1	2	1	-	-	4
2	Assam	-	-	1	-	-	1
3	Bihar	-	-	-	1	-	1
4	Chattisgarh	-	1	-	-	-	1
5	Gujarat	2	1	-	1	-	4
6	Haryana	-	-	-	3	-	3
7	Himachal Pradesh	-	1	-	-	-	1
8	J & K	-	-	-	2	-	2
9	Karnataka	1	1	3	-	-	5
10	Kerala	1	2	-	-	-	3
11	Madya Pradesh	-	-	-	1	-	1
12	Maharastra	1	1	-	1	2	5
13	Meghalaya	-	-	-	1	-	1
14	Orissa	-	1	-	-	-	1
15	Punjab	1	1	1	-	-	3
16	Rajasthan	-	1	-	-	-	1
17	Tamilnadu	1	2	-	1	-	4
18	Uttaranchal	-	1	-	-	-	1
19	Uttar Pradesh	1	-	1	2	-	4
20	West Bengal	2	1	-	-	-	3
	Total	11	16	7	13	2	49

• Development of minimum standard protocol for semen production (MSP):

  In order to produce frozen semen of the uniform quality, a Minimum Standard Protocol (MSP) for semen production has been developed in consultation with experts from BAIF, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), NDRI (Karnal) and Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute (CFSP & TI) and the same has been made effective from 20th May, 2004.

• ISO Certification of semen stations:

  The semen stations at Ooty (TCMPF), Bidaj (NDDB), ABC Saloon (NDDB), Amul Research & Development Association Anand (Amul Dairy), Jagudan (Mehsana Dairy), Urulikanchan Pune (BAIF), Hissar, Gurgoan, Jagadhari (HLDB) Haringhata, Salboni, Beldanga (West Bengal), Shyampur (Uttranchal), Nabha, Ropar (Punjab), Bhattain (Punjab Milk Fed), Nandani (KMF), SSCC Hessarghata, SLBTC Hessarghata, Dharwad (Karnataka) CFSP & TI Hessarghata (GOI Karnataka), Mattupatty, Dhoni, Kulathupuzha (Kerala), Vizag, Nandyal, Karimnagar, Banwasi (Andhra Pradesh), Bassi (Rajasthan), Bhadbhada (Madhya Pradesh), Cuttack (Orissa) and Chitale Bhilwadi (Private) are ISO certified. Semen station at Mattupatty, Dhoni, Kulathupuzha (Kerala), Haringhata (West Bengal), Salboni, Beldanga (West Bengal) and Bhadbhada (Madhya Pradesh) are also HACCP certified semen stations.