According to state Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar, the Himachal Pradesh government plans to establish a Murrah buffalo farm to provide nutrient-rich dairy products for the people of the hill state and surrounding region.
The Himachal Pradesh Livestock and Poultry Development Board would build the buffalo breeding farm on a four-hectare area in Una district for Rs. 5.06 crore.
“The farm’s concept is to supply unadulterated bovine frozen semen for artificial insemination (AI) from elite pure bulls to generate high-yielding calves,” Kanwar explained in a statement.
Murrah buffaloes, often known as “Black Gold,” are ideal for professional dairy farming since they produce high-quality milk.
The state government plans to build three ultra-modern shelters for 50 buffaloes — 30 adults and 20 heifers — at a cost of about Rs 75 lakh.
The adult buffaloes will be delivered in two groups of ten, while the heifers will be delivered in three groups of ten.
Each batch would be bought every five to six months, according to Kanwar, and animals will be obtained from government and private buffalo ranches whose animals are registered in the Cattle Herd Registration Scheme (CHRS).
To meet rising demand, the state government would give high-quality bovine semen to farmers in the state, while excess semen will be shipped to neighbouring states such as Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, he added.
Murrah buffaloes are known for their excellent milk production and are distinguished by their unique tightly curled horns and huge and stocky physique.
Murrah bulls have been sent from India to Bulgaria, Brazil, China, and many East Asian nations since the 1960s to aid in attempts to enhance native breeds and raise milk output.
According to the minister, the state government would give surplus Murrah heifers, adults, and bulls to farmers for commercial usage both within and beyond the state as part of the initiative.
During a 310-day lactation cycle, a Murrah buffalo produces around 2,200 litres of milk.
An exceptional milch Murrah buffalo’s daily lactation is around 14 to 15 litres, although in certain circumstances it has been observed to produce up to 31.5 litres. Kanwar estimates that the fat content of the milk is about 7.5%.