India possesses largest bovine and bubaline population in the world, but her animals have low productivity. The poor individual performance of indigenous milk animals in India makes the animal husbandry and dairying a less sustainable enterprise. On the other hand, breeding cattle and buffaloes on scientific lines has a tremendous potential in making dairy sector more sustainable and economically profitable for animal keepers.
This book makes an attempt to re-look the existing animal improvement programmes being followed in the country with various supportive technologies and available resources. The emphasis is also made to identify the critical gaps affecting the productivity and how to mitigate those gaps through intervening improved and sustainable emerging technologies, so that the productivity of cattle and buffaloes can be further enhanced and made sustainable both at organized farms and under rural household conditions.
The contents of this book are divided into different parts and under various chapters.
Part 1 - Genetic Interventions in Sustainable Breeding
Part 2 - Feeding and Management Interventions in Sustainable Breeding
Part 3 - Impact Assessment of Sustainable Breeding
Book chapter take account of cattle and buffalo germplasm, breeding policies, progeny testing, sire evaluation, field performance recording and documentation of existing germplasm etc. chapters are written in simple and expressive language so that even people with no previous knowledge about the scientific and sustainable breeding practises can comprehend the concepts easily. The book includes various photographs, figures, illustrations and tables for better understanding of the concepts involved in cattle and buffalo breeding. Many of the commonly used animal genetics & breeding terms are listed in a Glossary for easy reference.
We sincerely hope that this book will serve as a ready reference in cattle and buffalo breeding. Book will be of help to professionals, teachers, animal owners and animal breeders. Book will also play an active role in understanding the basic concepts of animal breeding for the Postgraduate and PhD students studying under various State Agricultural Universities.
Dr. Vikas Vohra is working as Assistant Professor / Jr. Scientist in the AGB Division of F.V.Sc &AH, SKUAST – Jammu since, 2005. He has done his Graduation degree (B.V.Sc & A.H) in 2002 from the first Veterinary College of Independent India which is College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mathura (U.P), which is at present known as UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura. He obtained his Post Graduation degree in the discipline of Animal Genetics and Breeding from A.G. Division of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly (U.P) in 2004. He was awarded his PhD degree in Animal Genetics and Breeding from Dairy Cattle Breeding Division of National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal (Haryana) in the year 2010. Through out his Academic career he was a meritorious student and NDRI topper student during his PhD programme. He was awarded with ICAR fellowship, CSIR-NET LS, ICMR fellowship and Institute fellowships during his professional degree programmes. He has four International and various national research publications in the peer reviewed journals of repute, collaborated in various practical and training manuals, and guiding M.V.Sc students. He was an honoured member of Academic council of NDRI (2008-09). He is a privileged reviewer of British Poultry Science Journal. His research contribution includes identifying new molecular and breeding strategies to increase the milk production in cattle and buffaloes.
Professor (Dr.) A. K. Chakravarty, Fellow of National Academy of Dairy Science, is working as Principal Scientist and In-charge of Artificial Breeding and Research Center at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. He completed his Masters Degree in the field of Animal Genetics and Breeding from Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar in 1982. He joined the ICAR in Agricultural Research Services in 1985 as Scientist S-1 at Central Institute for Research on Buffalo, Hisar. He obtained his PhD degree in the field of Animal Genetics and Breeding from Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar in 1986. He joined the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal in 1988. He has wide experience in handling several institutional, inter-institutional and externally funded projects including the Co-Principal Investigator of National Agricultural Technology Project on ‘Sustainable High Production of Indigenous and Crossbred Cattle and Buffaloes in rural households under rice-wheat production system’ funded by World Bank in Indian Council of Agriculture Research. He has guided many M.Sc / M.V.Sc and Ph.D students in Animal Genetics and Breeding at NDRI, Karnal. Prof. (Dr.) Chakravarty has more than 22 years of teaching experience in Animal Genetics and Breeding at NDRI, Karnal and was awarded national fellowship and acted as an expert for different institutions/organizations. He is engaged in the cattle and buffalo breed improvement programmes of several states of India. His research publications have been published in various refereed national and international journals.
