India Looks to Brazil for Bull Semen Imports to Boost Dairy Industry
Written by Sanjay Kumar
In a groundbreaking move aimed at enhancing milk production, India has imported 40,000 doses of bull semen from Brazil for the first time. The initiative, orchestrated by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), signals a significant leap in leveraging advanced reproductive technologies to augment the output of indigenous cattle breeds, particularly the Gir and Kankrej varieties.
Angelo de Queiroz Mauricio, agricultural attaché at Brazil’s embassy in New Delhi, revealed that the import, a culmination of three to four years of discussion, transpired successfully. The NDDB, a government-owned cooperative managing the renowned Mother Dairy brand, intends to utilize the imported semen to bolster a research project focused on enhancing the genetics of Indian breeds.
Mauricio highlighted the potential of Brazilian genetics in elevating milk production, stating, “NDDB is going to use the doses in an existing research project to get animals that have Brazilian genetics with a capacity of producing more than 80 litres of milk per animal. The average here is eight litres. Some animals in Brazil can even produce up to 40 litres of milk. However, the average is 20-22 litres per animal.”
This strategic move comes as India aims to achieve an ambitious milk production target of 330 million tonnes per annum by FY34. India, already the world’s largest milk producer, contributed 24% to global output in FY23, producing 230.6 million tonnes.
Despite the potential benefits, the NDDB faced resistance over the past four years from indigenous cow breeders who expressed concerns about the impact on Indian breeds. Notably, the government’s attempt to import frozen semen from Brazil in 2017 was postponed due to objections from cattle breeders.
In response to these concerns, Mauricio discussed future plans, saying, “We are also discussing embryo transfer. We are going to give it to living animals because there is a gradual increase in the success rate regarding genetic material.”
The bilateral relationship between India and Brazil has played a crucial role in facilitating this venture. With a strategic partnership since 2006, the two countries have engaged in collaborations across various sectors, including an MoU since 2008, with a focus on the development of animal husbandry, particularly in dairy.
Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal had earlier expressed the intention to increase two-way trade between the nations to $50 billion by 2030. Trade in FY22 stood at $15.2 billion, according to data from the ministry of external affairs.
The successful import of bull semen from Brazil not only signifies a landmark achievement in the pursuit of advanced agricultural practices but also strengthens the longstanding ties between India and Brazil in the field of animal husbandry.
