Vet university, dairy farmers’ association join hands to boost cattle genetics, milk yield in state

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Progressive Dairy Farmers’ Association (PDFA) which would give a major boost to genetic improvement and milk production in the state.

Under this MoU, elite Holstein Friesian (HF) and Jersey male calves from elite HF and Jersey cows, owned by the PDFA’s members, would be screened and selected for breeding.

The university will produce high-quality frozen semen doses from these calves and supply them back to dairy farmers through the PDFA, ensuring wider access to superior germplasm and promoting sustainable genetic advancement. This will lead to progeny testing of bulls with accurate data generation.

On the occasion, Dr JPS Gill, Vice-Chancellor, emphasised that this collaboration would enhance cattle genetics, improve milk productivity and provide farmers with cost-effective, high-quality germplasm. He added that the initiative would establish a sustainable livestock growth model, wherein farmers contribute to the genetic pool and reap benefits from improved progeny.

Daljit Singh Gill, president, PDFA, highlighted that Punjab’s dairy farmers preferred high milk-yielding HF and Jersey cows, creating a growing demand for a steady supply of frozen semen from elite bulls. At present, farmers are facing challenges in procuring superior quality semen. High cost and irregular supply of imported semen hinder genetic improvement at the farm level. Moreover once progeny testing is done, then the germplasm will fetch a high price.

Dr PS Brar, Director of Research, stated that HF and Jersey were among the world’s best milk-producing breeds. In Punjab, HF and crossbred cattle constitute about 80 per cent of the total cattle population and contribute nearly 40 per cent of the state’s total milk production.

Dr RS Grewal, Director of Extension Education, shared that Punjab has emerged as a leading breeder state for high genetic merit HF and Jersey cows in India, with the PDFA playing a key role in this achievement. Farmers from across the country visit Punjab to purchase superior dairy cattle, underlining the state’s importance in advancing dairy development at the state and national levels.

The progressive dairy farmers of Punjab have been using HF and Jersey semen to improve their herds. Over the years, many farmers have developed elite germplasm, which can now serve as seed stocks.