Conservation and assessment of the impact of genetic improvement of Surti buffaloes in farmer's herd.

A total of 14,167 frozen semen doses representing different bulls of Surti breed of buffaloes were conserved during the project period. Among the available stock 12764 semen doses were consumed and at the end 5372 doses were in balance. Field survey studies in 44 villages of Vallabhnagar, Malwi and Griwa tehsil of Udaipur district covering 5493 household was done to study the family status of the farmers, land holding, average livestock holding, and household involved in livestock rearing. In addition to this, information on breed composition of buffaloes, feeding system, health, breeding, housing management practices to be followed alongwith information on various productive and reproductive traits was collected. Association between land and family size with livestock holdings has also been studied.The study conducted also indicates that Surti buffalo has made its place in the rural economy of southern Rajasthan by replacing the unproductive cattle and has become the main stay of landless, marginal and sub-marginal farmers as Surti buffalo is lighter in body weight as compared to other breeds of buffalo and consumes less feed, thrive well on limited or without green produce milk with higher fat and SNF content. The studies recommend that contradictory to the breeding policy of the state, Murrah semen being used by AH, Government of Rajasthan and RCDF in southern Rajasthan should completely be stopped. The elite Surti germplasm available at the Station should be conserved and used for production of bulls of high genetic merit. Furhter to improve the production potential of elite herd Surti buffalo should be included in the associated herd progeny testing at institutional heard programme under Network Project on Buffaloes. Strengthening of extension services to educate the farmers about importance of scientific feeding, breeding, management and health coverage needs to be strengthened to solve the problem of poverty, malnutrition and unemployment in the region.