Anantapur: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is jointly setting up a Centre of Excellence for genetic improvement within indigenous cattle at the S.V. Gosamrakshana Shala at Tirupati.
The aim of the centre will be to improve the genetic potential of Indian cattle in alignment with the Vedic principles of cow welfare.
Addressing a review meeting at Gokulam Rest House in Tirumala on Tuesday, TTD executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy said the ministry of animal husbandry has granted a corpus fund of ₹4,614.50 lakh over a five-year period for conserving genetic diversity and livestock productivity.
He said the aim of TTD is to promote indigenous genetic breeds of cows for producing 3,000 litres of milk and 60–100 kg ghee required for meeting Pooja needs of Sri Venkateswara Swami.
Dharma Reddy said the centre of excellence will focus on advanced reproductive technologies like artificial insemination and embryo transfer to accelerate the genetic improvement process.
The project will be implemented by the National Dairy Development Board and Dairy Services. Funds will be released by NDDB under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
NDDB MD Sri Devadanand, NDDB chairperson Sridevi, SV Veterinary University professors Sri Sajjan Rao and Venkat Rao, JEO Sada Bhargavi, FA & CAO O. Balaji, CE Nageswar Rao, SV Gosala director Dr. Harnath Reddy and Sheerja of Milk Federation of Tirupati were present.
