Now, genome test to certify breeding bulls

Thiruvananthapuram: Aspiring sires in the state's cattle breeding

programme can no longer ride the advantage of being born to elite cows
and proven bulls. They will have to pass a 'genome selection' test, a
screening for milk production potential genes to get posted as 'breeding
bulls'.

Signaling a new era in genetic improvement of livestock, Kerala Livestock

Development Board (KLDB) has established the Centre for Applied
Livestock Genomics (CALG) at Kudappanakunnu in the capital city to
identify bulls for AI (artificial insemination) by testing DNA sample from
blood, semen, ear tip or hair.

"This helps in early selection of young male calves for rearing as future
bulls. They will be screened for milk production potential genes through
efficient genomic selection at an early age and farmers will get the
services of these young sires through a large-scale artificial
insemination," said KLDB managing director Dr Jose James.

This would mean an end to the decades-long progeny testing

programmes based on field milk recording system and use of stored
semen of already dead bulls to
inseminate elite cows and beginning of a new and improved approach
called 'genomic selection', a faster genetic progress with higher accuracy
and a first-of-its-kind method in India for bull selection, which can be a
model for the entire country in the coming years.

The genomic technology is used for bull selection in USA, Canada and
several European countries. But, the techniques for low-cost and
comprehensive genotyping were made available only recently.
"Now, we can make use of this scientific advancement in breeding our
own dairy cattle Sunandini (a cross-breed of Kerala's non-descript cow
and the Brown Swiss and Jersey breeds, developed under the Indo-Swiss
Project)," Dr Jose said.

Established in three years period after its conceptualization and fully

funded by the state government, the Rs 10.9 crore CALG will be
inaugurated by chief minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday. "The project
has also secured a central government aid of Rs 1.5 crore under the
national programme for bovine breeding and dairy development. We will
start the basic standardization works within a couple of weeks," Dr Jose
said.

Set up with the support of lab scientists from National Dairy Research
Institute, Haryana; Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology,
Thiruvananthapuram and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
(CMFRI), the centre will also be able to screen carriers of genetic diseases
in the breeding herd and act as referral laboratory to carry out screening
frozen semen stations for genetic diseases.