Govt ropes in scientists to breed more female calves

Managing chromosomes

• Indian scientists are working on a technology to remove 'Y' chromosomes from male sperm. The resulting offspring then can only be a female, as a male calf is produced only when 'X' and 'Y' chromosomes combine.

• At the instance of the Centre Government, an expensive scientific model is being worked out in this regard at the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, and its scientists have been given Rs 6 crore for research so far

• The aim is to increase the production of milk and other dairy products

New Delhi, June 30

The Narendra Modi government has engaged a group of scientists to work on a "new technology model" to facilitate birth of more female calves and discourage bulls.

The aim is to increase the production of milk and other dairy products.

"You may call it a family planning with a difference. But it's not the case of pre-birth sex determination and abortion or something as one can misinterpret. This is a purely scientific method under which the resulting offspring after mating will be female calves," a senior Agriculture Ministry official said here.

"This is an expensive scientific model being worked out at the (government-run) NDRI (National Dairy Research Institute) at Karnal. Discussions are also on with some voluntary organisations for funding as the exercise may involve huge investments in the long run," the official said.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has also evinced interest in the project and discussions are on, source said.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and his deputy, Sanjeev Balyan, are all supportive of the initiative.

The scientists at the fund-starved NDRI have so far been given only Rs 6 crore ($885,000) for research on the issue while their initial demand was for Rs 50 crore.

Under the "technology model" now being practised in parts of the United States and Canada, the system is patented, source said.

"Indian scientists are working on technology to remove 'Y' chromosomes from male sperm. The resulting offspring then can only be a female, as a male calf is produced only when 'X' and 'Y' chromosomes combine," the source explained.

"The idea is simple. Female calves or cows have more utility value. Bulls have limited utility like ploughing and are more often slaughtered for the meat. If you don't have bulls, even cow slaughter will come down," the source said.

According to a livestock census, India has around 290 million bovines of which 84 million are males. The Union Government is also keen to work on a model to set up 'fodder banks'. A proposal in that regard was mooted last year and the matter is apparently pending with the Union Environment Ministry.

"The government will also take necessary steps to multiply milk production and address economic and social problems associated with the killing of unproductive bulls," sources in the Animal Husbandry department said. — IANS