To bolster Punjab's cattle breeding with cutting-edge reproductive biotechnologies, Punjab Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian visited Kerala Livestock Development Board's (KLDB) pioneering Frozen Semen Technology and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre at Mattuppetty in Idukki district of Kerala. The facility, established in 1965, stands as the birthplace of bovine frozen semen technology in India and remains a leading center for advanced reproductive biotechnologies.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry Mr. Rahul Bhandari and other officials, visited on the invitation of Kerala Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Smt. J. Chinchurani, aimed to explore opportunities for technical collaboration in comprehensive cattle breeding programs.
Following the visit, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said, “The advanced genomic selection methods and assisted reproductive technologies at Mattuppetty offer immense potential for improving the genetic quality of our livestock in Punjab. The expertise in frozen semen production, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer programs could significantly boost the state government's cattle breeding initiatives.”
S. Khudian also held discussions with his Kerala counterpart, Smt. J. Chinchurani, and Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dr. K. Vasuki, IAS, via online mode. In-person discussions were also conducted with Dr. R. Rajeev, managing director of the KLD Board, at Mattuppetty.
The delegation was especially impressed by the KLDB's Centre of Excellence Laboratory for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Transfer (ET) programs, alongside the International Training Centre, which provides specialized training for veterinary professionals, para-veterinarians, and dairy farmers.
During the visit, several key areas for future collaboration were identified. The first area involves a germ-plasm exchange program. Punjab will support Kerala's efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production by facilitating the procurement of high-quality Holstein Friesian (HF) calves, heifers, and cows from Punjab. These animals will be distributed to Kerala farmers and used as embryo/ovum donors for KLDB's IVF/ET programs, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated.
He also mentioned that the second area of collaboration focuses on the Elite Breeding Stock Exchange, exploring possibilities for exchanging quality bulls of different cattle and buffalo breeds, along with the renowned Beetal breed of goats from Punjab, with the KLD Board. The third area involves biotechnology knowledge transfer through collaboration on advanced biotechnology programs in animal breeding, including genomic technology, IVF and ET programs, and the production of high-quality frozen semen doses.
The fourth area centers on technical training exchange, with reciprocal training programs. Professionals from Punjab will attend specialized courses in IVF/ET, frozen semen technology, and bovine reproductive technologies at Mattuppetty, while Kerala will send trainees to Punjab to learn about advanced practices established in Punjab's Animal Husbandry Department.
The fifth area of collaboration focuses on specialized skill development, where Punjab officials will participate in KLDB's training programs on fodder production, fodder seed quality testing, genomic breeding value estimation, genetic disease screening, and karyotyping.
"This collaboration marks a significant step toward modernizing our livestock breeding programs through the integration of cutting-edge reproductive biotechnologies," added Animal Husbandry Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
