Banaskantha: On Friday, October 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) in Bhildi, located in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. Built at a cost of approximately ₹325 crore, this state-of-the-art animal breeding and research facility spans 127 acres. It has been developed by Banas Dairy, with technical guidance from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and support from the central government’s ‘Rashtriya Gokul Mission’.
The primary objective of this center is to improve the genetic quality of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds, enhance milk production capacity, and provide livestock farmers with animals of superior breeds. The actual cost of the project is reported to be ₹324.77 crore.
Targeting the production of 25,000 high-quality embryos annually
The India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre aims to produce 25,000 high-quality embryos every year. This will be achieved through the use of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), embryo transfer, and other advanced reproductive technologies.
These techniques will facilitate a rapid increase in the number of animals possessing superior genetic traits. While a cow typically produces one calf per year through natural breeding, these advanced reproductive technologies aim to enable a single high-quality cow to produce between 10 and 20 calves annually.
According to the central government, this facility could help accelerate the pace of breed improvement in livestock by 10 to 20 times.
Special focus on improving indigenous breeds, including Kankrej
The center will place a special emphasis on enhancing the genetic quality of indigenous livestock, including the Kankrej breed. At the center, work will be carried out on the genetic improvement of cattle breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, and Tharparkar, as well as buffalo breeds including Mehsana, Banni, Jafrabadi, and Murrah.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, this is the first facility of its kind in the country dedicated to the Kankrej breed. Through the use of modern technology and scientific research, the initiative aims to increase the population of livestock that offer higher milk yields and superior quality.
Inauguration of Banas Dairy Projects Worth ₹407.56 Crore
The Prime Minister inaugurated three major projects of Banas Dairy, with a total investment of ₹407.56 crore. These include the Cattle Breeding and Research Center in Bhildi, a French fries processing plant in Sanadar, and an Automated Storage and Retrieval System in Palanpur.
The key projects are as follows:
- Cattle Breeding and Research Center, Bhildi: ₹324.77 crore.
- French Fries Processing Plant, Sanadar: ₹51.65 crore. Its production capacity has been increased from two tonnes to five tonnes per hour.
- Automated Storage and Retrieval System, Palanpur: ₹31.14 crore. This state-of-the-art system will facilitate the automated storage and distribution of Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk products.
