With the widespread demand for dairy products, farmers have started to look at high breed cows and heifers to boost production. As a major support measure, the Department of Livestock under the Agriculture and Forests Ministry launched sexed semen technology among other strategic plans for livestock development today.
Sexed semen technology is a method of producing desired sex either female or male by removing the unwanted chromosome through technology such as flow cytometry. Since its validation in 2014, about 90% resulted in female birth where 168 females were born out of 187 progenies. The ministry after the successful tests procured 8500 doses of sexed semen from abroad to boost dairy production in the country.
Chief Livestock Production Officer, Towchu Rabgay said to increase the dairy production cattle breed needs to be improved and breeds can be improved with good seeds. “ Following successful tests in the villages we have decided to launch this nationwide.”
The sexed semen is imported from the United Kingdom, the United States and Denmark at a cost of USD 20 per semen dose. It is then stored at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius under nitrogen gas. During the breeding season, the semen is brought to body temperature and heifers are inseminated.
The application of the technology will be expanded in all dzongkhags in the next 3 years. The intervention is expected to produce over 6500 heifers by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan.
The Ministry also launched the Bhutan Journal of Animal Science, National Strategy for Apiculture and Animal health and disease control plans today.
Tshering Dendup
