doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.455-460 Breeding policy strategies for genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes in India

Dairy cattle and buffalo production has undergone a major transformation resulting into a substantial increase in milk production thus helping our country to achieve top position in milk production in the world. Even though various animal breeding and management programmes have contributed to this improvement, there are constraints hampering the growth which require proper attention by initiating realistic breeding policies for genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes. In view of this, optimum breeding policies for various classes of cattle and buffaloes are presented with their strengths and shortcomings. Technologies for selection of superior genotypes and multiplication of their germplasm are also being discussed. Finally, some breeding policy strategies for proper implementation of these programmes are recommended for 
adoption.


Genetic diversity and breeding policies
Livestock sector plays a critical role in the welfare India has rich and diverse genetic resources with of India's rural population.It contributes 9% of GDP 37 well defined breeds of cattle and 13 breeds of and employs 8% of the labour force.This sector has buffaloes.Although, we possess a large number of well emerged as an important growth leverage of Indian defined cattle and buffalo breeds, they constitute economy [1].Among livestock, dairying has largely hardly 20-25% of total cattle and buffalo population been considered as subsidiary to agriculture, however, of the country [5].The cattle and buffalo genetic during the last three decades, dairy cattle and buffalo resources with vast population of 187.4 million and production had undergone a major transformation 96.6 millions comprising large population of crossbred thus resulting into a substantial increase in milk cattle and non-descript cattle and buffaloes are widely production and dairying has become a viable tool to distributed in diverse agro-ecological regions of the diversify the agricultural production [2].Our country country [6].These diverse population groups reared in has already raised to top position in milk production in small herd size of 2-3 animals mainly by small, the world which could be attributed to increase in the marginal and landless farmers of different sociopopulation of high yielding crossbred cattle and economic levels under different ecologies have buffaloes coupled with launching of various breed suffered in the past without a uniform national cattle improvement programmes by the government as well and buffalo breeding policy.However, the Government as different research and development organizations [3].
of India, on the basis of recommendations of National Various animal breeding and reproductive Commission on Agriculture and subsequent expert technologies for selection and faster multiplication panels, has laid down broad guidelines of breeding of genetically superior cattle and buffalo germplasm, policy for bovines as shown in Table -1 [3].adoption of improved animal husbandry practices, It is imperative that the country should develop expansion of infrastructure development on network strategic planning so that available resources in of Artificial Insemination, animal health care, milk different agro-ecological zones of the country be procurement and marketing facilities etc., have exploited judiciously and utilize sustainably for further contributed significantly to increase in milk production.
enhancing the productivity of cattle and buffaloes.However, there are large number of constraints Therefore, agro-climatic region and animal production hampering these programmes and therefore, there is a system based breeding policy strategies with a focus on need to mitigate the gaps and further optimize the use large scale implementation of improved animal of resources and undertake pragmatic breeding policy genetics and breeding innovations by development strategies for genetic improvement of cattle and organizations with active participation of farmers/ buffaloes [4].
breeders are discussed here under [7].Before developing sustainable breeding strategies for improving the productivity performance of a particular breed/genetic group of animal population in doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.455-460 a given agro-climatic region, it is necessary to have a yielding exotic cattle breeds over the years, being the comprehensive details of population size of breed quickest and most effective mean of breeding through along with analysis of existing activities such as AI, 22.6 millions of crossbred cattle comprising of farmer/breeder's perceptions and socio-economic halfbreds and higher level of exotic inheritance have levels, agriculture and livestock production systems, been produced in organized farms and rural households available feed and fodder resources, animal genetic of different agro-climatic zones [11].The crossbreeding resources, their production potentials and utilization in dairy cattle has relatively shown good results pattern, breeding organizations, infrastructure and mainly under semi-intensive and intensive animal development facilities [8].The Quinquennial All India production systems.Accordingly, breeding policy for Livestock Census contains information on the further genetic improvement of large existing crossbred herd/flock structure, sex, age, etc. and it does not reflect cattle population under semi-intensive and intensive the factual situation about the status of breeds in terms animal production systems is suggested below. of their population.Hence, the actual population of Under semi-intensive animal production system, each breed and their geographical distribution is not it is advisable to restrict exotic inheritance between 50 and 62.5% through inter-se mating in crossbred cattle.clearly known.The correct picture about these breeds Therefore, the F crossbred females under semiwould be available only when breed-wise census of the 1 livestock is carried out and status and performance of intensive production system should be bred with breeds are surveyed in their natural habitat and the genetically superior progeny-tested crossbred males having exotic inheritance between 50 and 75%.same has been initiated in the recent survey [9].
Intensive (high input-high output) animal production In the back ground of the collected and collated system is mostly adopted by resource rich farmers in information on all above aspects, following region milk shed areas around peri-urban and industrial towns specific animal breeding strategies can be planned for where good market for milk and milk products is conservation and genetic improvement of bovine available and adequate quantity of quality feed and genetic resources under different animal production green fodder resources exist.Under intensive systems.
production system, higher levels of exotic inheritance Genetic improvement of non-descript zebu cattle between 62.5 and 75% can be sustained.The F females 1 by crossbreeding in the field should be bred with genetically superior The most rapid and effective approach to genetically progeny-tested males of exotic breeds with high improve the largest chunk of non-descript zebu cattle progeny test index to produce progeny with 75% population is through crossbreeding with exotic dairy exotic inheritance.Further, the progeny tested cattle breeds particularly in milk shed areas around crossbred males having exotic inheritance between 50 peri-urban and industrial towns where good marketing and 75% produced through inter-se mating can be used to sustain the exotic level between 62.5 and 75%.facilities for milk and milk products and round the year Holstein Friesian should continue to be the breed of availability of adequate amount of green fodder and choice in the irrigated plains and Jersey in hilly terrain quality feed resources exist.Past experiences of and coastal areas for crossbreeding.The milk yield and crossbreeding with exotic dairy cattle breeds like milk constituents (fat and protein percentages) should Holstein, Brown Swiss and Jersey proved to be an be used as criteria for selection of crossbred bulls as effective tool of bringing rapid genetic improvement well as import of frozen semen of exotic bulls of high for enhancing multifold productivity of non-descript transmitting ability [12].cattle.Holstein Friesian cattle have been recommended The crossbreeding of non-descript zebu cows as the breed of choice in the irrigated plains and Jersey with semen of exotic dairy cattle breeds has resulted in cattle as breed of choice in hilly terrain and coastal enhancing milk production by 5 to 8 times to that of areas for crossbreeding.The optimum level of exotic non-descript cows, reducing age at first calving and inheritance in crossbred cattle should range between 50 shortening calving intervals in first generation crossbred and 75% [10].
progenies.A well laid down breeding policy, along As a result of various research and development with availability of elite bulls in sufficient number, programmes on crossbreeding in dairy cattle infrastructure on AI and animal health inputs, delivery particularly crossing non-descript cattle with high of services, programme monitoring and regulatory ability for grading up subsequently in initial mechanisms, is required to sustain the improved generations, milk yield can be improved to the extent of productivity of crossbreds and check the decline in 5 to 10 % per annum.In a period of 5-6 generations of performance in subsequent generations [13].
continuous grading up, the non-descript stock will also be transformed into well-defined purebreds [17].

Genetic improvement of non-descript cattle by grading up Genetic improvement of indigenous cattle breeds by selective breeding
The local non-descript low producing cattle are reared mainly under Low-Input Production System To meet the huge requirement of superior bulls of across the different agro-climatic zones where quality well-defined zebu cattle breeds and multiplication of feed and fodder resources are not available in sufficient their quality germplasm for enhancing the productivity quantity.The farmers are not resource-rich and infra-of vast nondescript cattle as well as transforming nonstructure facilities are also inadequate.Marketing descript to well define purebreds, it is necessary to facilities for sale of milk and milk products are poor.
undertake large-scale genetic improvement programmes The non-descript cattle constituting more than 75-in different zebu cattle breeds in their respective 80% of total cattle population under this production breeding tracts through selective breeding.The system can be genetically improved by grading up animals with high producing ability belonging to wellusing high genetic merit pedigreed and preferably defined indigenous dairy and dual-purpose cattle progeny tested proven bulls of well known indigenous breeds are maintained under intensive production cattle breeds like Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi, Gir, system at organized farms and under semi-intensive Deoni, Hariana, Ongole, Kankrej etc. available in the management system at farmers' herds [18].breeding tract [14] which are maintained at several In the past, various selective breeding schemes organized government and non-government farms for for genetic improvement of indigenous cattle and production of breeding bulls.
buffalo breeds have been undertaken generally on So far the impact of breed improvement programmes single and small size herds in isolation manner.These initiated earlier through grading up of the local non-programmes could not contribute towards identifidescript cattle with improved indigenous breeds has cation and selection of adequate number of genetically not been very encouraging.This may be due to non-superior proven bulls in accurate and intense manner availability of adequate number of high genetic merit which resulted insignificant amount of genetic progress pedigreed or progeny tested bulls of indigenous breed, over the years in most of the herds of indigenous cattle low production levels of indigenous breeds, irregular breeds due to small size, absence of rigorous selection and short term basis breeding plan which could not of males and females, poor replacement rate and more wean away the farmers/breeders from using scrub bulls involuntary culling of cows on the basis of traits other for breeding their herds [15].Hence, this system of than low milk production, unplanned breeding genetic improvement is failed to make any impact in programme and poor monitoring [19].Therefore, it is improving the productivity of local non-descript cattle suggested that the breed specific networking of and fulfill their long term objective of transformation organized farms and farmer's/breeder's herds should be of nondescript cattle to the improved purebred developed to form a large associated test mate breeds.
population for undertaking large scale progeny testing Therefore, for successful implementation of grading of breeding bulls.The closed herds could also be up programme of non-descript cattle with improved opened through two-way flow of superior germplasm indigenous breeds, the adequate number of superior from the breeding tract to nucleus herds and vice-versa.breeding bulls of different indigenous breeds need to Thus, the adoption of open nucleus breeding technique be out-sourced for production of quality frozen semen will enhance genetic gain not only on organized herds and AI infrastructure networking should be strengthbut also in the farmer's herds [20].ened.The bulls for this purpose initially should be Therefore, the existing herds of well-defined produced from superior dams identified from breeds need to be strengthened further and be designated organized farms and farmer herds which have more as elite herds for production of superior bulls.The areas than 2000 kg as lactation yield for milch breed of of the country where the indigenous cattle breeds need Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Gir cattle and more than 1500 to be improved by selective breeding are: Gujarat state kg for dual type cattle breeds of Hariana, Kankrej and for Gir and Kankrej; Rajasthan state for Rathi, Nagori Ongole etc.These bulls should subsequently be and Tharparkar; Haryana, parts of Punjab, Western genetically evaluated by large scale progeny testing U.P. and Rajasthan for Hariana, Maharashtra and parts programme through networking of organized farms of Karnataka for Hallikar, Amritmahal and Deoni; and village herds [16].
Tamil Nadu for Kangayam and Andhra Pradesh for Proper monitoring of grading up programme of Ongole.By selective breeding, it is expected that nondescript cattle on regular and long term basis can genetic improvement can be achieved ranging from 1 improve the milk yield by 500 to 800 kg in the first to 1.5% per annum in organized herds and 8-10% per generation.By use of zebu bulls of high transmitting annum in farmer's herds in initial generations.Such breed improvement programme must form coordinating ded for grading up of medium body sized non-descript bodies for monitoring the germplasm production, buffaloes [23].The low producing non-descript buffaloes performance recording, evaluation and selection of can be replaced with relatively high producing young bulls and testing their genetic merit through buffaloes conforming to the characteristics of well networking both at organized herds including defined breeds through grading up with superior breeds progressive gaushalas maintaining indigenous breeds in 5 to 6 generations [24].It may be explored to collect as well as farmer's herds under field conditions.semen from 50 % graded breed bull and distribute for field insemination in the places with inadequate Genetic improvement of indigenous buffalo management and feed / fodder resources for sustaining breeds by selective breeding the improvement achieved in the first generation of The relatively high yielding buffaloes of wellgrading up programme.defined breeds are maintained under intensive production Advanced technologies for genetic improvement system at organized farms and under semi-intensive management system in farmer's herds in the breeding It has been observed that livestock genetic tracts of different buffalo breeds.To exploit the large improvement programmes are based upon the degree of genetic variability between and within the technologies developed in the areas of quantitative buffalo breeds, the genetic improvement of buffalo genetics and reproductive biology.These include herds in the country can be brought through selective methodologies for selection of females based upon breeding within breeds by net-working approach of their expected producing ability and young males based on their expected predicted difference using progeny-testing of bulls associating multiple organized pedigree information, physical attributes and herds as well as farmer's herds under field conditions subsequently evaluating sires on the basis of their [21].
progeny performance etc.These coupled with Artificial For effective implementation of such programmes Insemination and Embryo Transfer Technology for particularly on large scale, existing organized farms further improving the intensity and accuracy of of Murrah, Surti, Mehsana, Nili Ravi, Nagpuri, selection could be utilized for improvement of cattle Bhadawari and Jaffarabadi buffalo breeds should be and buffalo herds maintained on organized farms and strengthened for production of breeding bulls.In under field conditions [25].Since large proportion of certain pockets of states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and genetic gain is resulted through proper selection of Karnataka, Surti is recommended to be the breed of superior breeding bulls, it should be ensured that the choice; Murrah is generally the breed of choice in the young bulls are the progenies of elite matings and states of Punjab, Haryana and Western U.P besides few subsequently be progeny tested on large test mate pockets in Punjab where Nili Ravi has sizable population population associating multiple organized herds or and it also needs to be improved through selective farmer herds.Elite cows or she buffaloes for nominated breeding.The genetic improvement in indigenous mating may be chosen from organized herds and from buffalo breeds for higher milk production, reduction in farmers' herds through developing proper performance age at maturity, service period, dry period and calving recording system under field conditions [26].interval will lead to higher economic returns to the We require huge number of genetically superior farmers.It is expected that genetic improvement of 1 to breeding bulls along with adequate networking of AI 1.5% per annum in milk production will be achieved at and animal health infrastructure for implementing the organized farms by selective breeding, through large scale genetic improvement programmes on networking of multi-herds of a particular breed and 8widely distributed population of cattle and buffaloes in 10% per annum in farmers' herds through introducing the country.According to an estimate, to cover even germplasm of high yielding buffalo bulls [22].
30% breedable bovine population in the country for

Genetic improvement of non-descript buffaloes
breeding through AI as many as 1050 proven bulls of by grading up crossbred cattle, 5700 proven bulls of well-defined indigenous cattle breeds and 11400 proven buffalo The low producing, local non-descript buffaloes breeding bulls are required.Outsourcing of large are generally reared under low to medium input number of bulls/bull calves, selected on the basis of production system in areas where feed and fodder performance of elite pedigreed dams and progeny resources and marketing facilities are moderately performance, is an uphill task in the absence of animal available.The production potential of low producing performance recording system under field conditions non-descript buffaloes can be increased rapidly Suitable selection procedures and breeding phenotypic information evaluation is expected as policies are the tools available for improvement of future breeding tool for selection of animals [30].
dairy cattle and buffaloes.A reorientation of cattle and Recommendations buffalo breeding policy would be attempted with area specific approach backed up by appropriate programs In this context the following strategies are addressing our concerns for indigenous breeds and recommended for accomplishing the huge task of draught animal power.A similar approach has been genetic improvement of cattle and buffalo genetic adopted in the National Project on Cattle and Buffalo resources in the country: Breeding.Indigenous cattle breeds accepted by * Establishment and strengthening of breeding common farmers shall be further developed through services organizations (Centre/State level) for region specific and breed specific programs aimed at overall monitoring and implementation of breeding selection in the breeding tracts and supply of improved programmes.
quality germ plasm on demand by farmers.Formation * Infrastructure facilities such as establishment of of breed associations for improvement of indigenous AI centers, Animal Health Centers, milk procurebreeds shall be encouraged.Such associations shall be ment and extension centers fully equipped with involved in production of quality male stock.An trained man power can be provided to enlarge effective mechanism for providing disease free network of breeding facilities for covering large superior breeding bulls and quality semen for artificial number of breedable bovine animals in the insemination will be put in place.Breeding services operational area.
could be provided at the farmer's door step level.* Integration of In-situ and Ex-Situ conservation Advanced animal breeding and reproduction technoprogrammes with breed improvement and logies developed during the last few decades would be development programmes.Establishment and utilized to augment the genetic improvement of cattle strengthening of breed nucleus herds/bull mother and buffaloes.Consequently, it would be possible to farms, young bull rearing centers, semen collection

Table - 1
[3]reeding strategies for bovines as recommended by Government of India[3] [27].Different models on Networking of breedthrough mating with superior sires of improved breeds specific institutional cattle and buffalo organized farms like Murrah, Surti and Mehsana.Surti is recommended and large progressive farmer's herds for testing of for Karnataka, Kerala, parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, large number of breeding bulls and introducing Nili Ravi for few pockets of Punjab, Murrah for performance recording and progeny testing of bulls Haryana, parts of western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.In with active participation of farmers need to be planned other parts of the country where sufficient feed and[28].National Project on Cattle and Buffalo Breeding fodder resources are available, Murrah is recommen- Conclusionwith conventional breeding involving pedigree and