Governor Visits Animal Breeding Farm in Kalsi, Uttarakhand

Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) Visits Animal Breeding Farm in Kalsi

Dehradun, 21 May: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) paid a visit to the Animal Breeding Farm in Kalsi, operated by the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board of the State Animal Husbandry Department. This center has been recognized by the Government of India as a Center of Excellence for the conservation and promotion of indigenous cattle breeds such as Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Gir, and Tharparkar.

During his visit, the Governor praised the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board for its high level of technological advancements in the field. He highlighted the importance of the work being done in areas such as Ovum Pickup, IVF, Genetic Engineering, and Genome Engineering, stating that these technologies have the potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector. The Governor emphasized the need to ensure that farmers benefit from these advancements.

The Governor inspected the cattle at the project and expressed satisfaction with the treatment of the animals. He also learned about the ultra-modern milking machine and the IVF lab established under the National Gokul Mission for genetic improvement. The laboratory in-charge, Dr Ajaypal Singh Aswal, provided detailed information about the program for producing high milk yield calves through IVF-embryo transplantation technique.

Dr Aswal informed the Governor that the Kalsi Project has been a pioneer in the country in the field of embryo transplantation technology, with 649 calves produced through this technique to date. The Governor also visited the Krishi Prashikshan Kendra at the project, where he learned about the nutrition programs for livestock and the establishment of a fodder bank to support livestock owners.

In addition to his visit to the Animal Breeding Farm, the Governor also visited the Ashoka inscription located in Kalsi, learning about the historical significance of the monument and emphasizing the need for more publicity to attract visitors.

The Governor was accompanied by First Lady Gurmeet Kaur, Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department Vinod Kumar Suman, Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board Dr RS Negi, and other officials during his visit.

Overall, the Governor’s visit highlighted the important work being done at the Animal Breeding Farm in Kalsi and the potential for technological advancements to benefit farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.