Skip Navigation Links
Lead Centre: ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal
Collaborating Units: 12 (Gaushalas/NGOs)
Background and Rationale
The domesticated livestock genetic resources in India are the result of thousands of years of selection, evolution and development of the wild species in the process of domestication suitable to the local agro-climatic conditions. There is no well-organized breeding activity for indigenous genetic resources in the native regions where the animal breeds exist. This leads to problems in identification, evaluation and management of these breeds. Further, there are no breed societies or agencies for registration of animals of a particular breed on the pattern of developed countries. Lack of organized breeding in indigenous breeds has led to the intermixing of breeds in the same region. Lack of appreciation of the productivity of indigenous breeds especially under prevailing conditions of management has led to dilution of breeds and some of the important genes related to adaptation may even have been lost. Indigenous breeds are generally low producers but many of these breeds have the potential and their production can be enhanced substantially by following intensive selection programmes. Hence, there is a need to undertake conservation and improvement programmes in the breeding tract to make these breeds more productive, economically viable and utilize judiciously.

To conserve the breeds in their own habitat i.e. in-vivo conservation is the best way to make it sustainable in the long–run and has been envisaged under the present proposal. The identified breed/population needs to be improved for their inherited traits/characters to make them economically viable and sustainable with the livestock keepers.
Objectives
  1. To evaluate and characterize AnGR of prioritized breeds.
  2. To document the local AnGR.
  3. In vivo conservation and sustainable management of AnGR of prioritized breeds.
Targets/Activities
  1. Establishment of nucleus herd in the tract with field agency (ONBS mode).
    A field agency e.g. gaushala for cattle or a state farm for sheep/goat having infrastructure can be identified and strengthened. These farms shall work as in-situ conservation centres of NBAGR. 
  2. Raising of breeding males from elite females.
  3. Production, processing and cryopreservation of semen from breeding males.
  4. Registration of farmers’ animals and recording for desirable traits by animal keepers.
  5. Incentive for retaining the animals in shape of feed/mineral mixture/deworming/vaccination etc.
  6. Health care and management help.
  7. Use of elite breeding males in farmers herds/flocks either by AI (frozen semen) or NS.
  8. Improvement and conservation of various breeds in the field.
  9. Creation of breed societies to take care of the conservation and improvement of breed/population after the project period.
  10. Value addition, creation of niche marketing and branding of animal products having specialty of a breed.

Copyright (C) 2016 All Rights Resereved, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources,
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture (Govt. of India), Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110012, INDIA