Impact of artificial insemination centers established under UPSLRP-III

As part of Uttar Pradesh Sodic Lands Reclamation Project-III, 100 Artificial Insemination Centers (AIC) have been established in the project areas of Uttar Pradesh with an objective to improve the breed of buffalo and cow and enhance the milk yield. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of AICs on the breed and milk yield of buffaloes and cows. The study was conducted in the month of October 2016 with reference point of end-September 2016. The study has covered 18 AICs from 9 districts of Uttar Pradesh. In total, 360 beneficiaries and 180 non-beneficiaries were covered. Ninety nine percent of beneficiary farmers reported improvement in breed of cow calves born through artificial insemination. Average milk yield of calve-turned cows was found to be 6.33 liters per day which is estimated to be 58% higher than the milk yield of mother cows. Ninety six percent of beneficiaries reported improvement in breed of buffalo calves born through artificial insemination. Average milk yield of calve-turned buffaloes was found to be 8.55 liters per day which is 43 percent higher than the milk yield of mother buffaloes. It is concluded that the project intervention has succeeded in meeting its objective of improving cow and buffalo breed and enhancing milk yield in the catchment of AICs.