Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Cattle

The TTD is jointly setting up a Centre of Excellence for the genetic improvement of indigenous cattle at SV Gosamrakshana Shala at Tirupati with the objective to improve the genetic potential in Indian cattle by aligning with Vedic principles of cow welfare.

Addressing a review meeting at Gokulam Rest House in Tirumala on Tuesday the TTD EO Sri AV Dharma Reddy said the Ministry of fisheries and Department of Animal Husbandry have granted a corpus fund of ₹4614.50 lakhs over a five-year period for serving up the institution aimed at conserving genetic diversity and livestock productivity.

The TTD EO said the goal was to promote a genetic breed of animals to raise 3000 litres of milk from indigenous cow besides 60-100 kgs of ghee for all service needs of Sri Venkateswara Swami through the Bilona method.

The centre 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 and the funds released by the NDDB under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

He said the SV Gosamrakshana Shala, of TTD is already undertaking certain activities in this direction of desi breeding, the NDDB and NDS should coordinate and release funds for all components of the project to the TTD.

Sri Devadanand MD of NDDB, Smt Sridevi, NDDB Chairperson, Smt Sheerja of Milk Federation of Tirupati, Sri Sajjan Rao and Venkat  Rao professors at SV Veterinary University, JEO( E&H) Smt Sada Bhargavi, FA&CAO Sri O Balaji, CE Sri Nageswar Rao and Director SV Gosala Dr Harnath Reddy were also present.