The Animal Research Center of the Veterinary University at Vidar has won the National Award

KVAFSU Director of Research BV Shivprakash and Associate Professor and Head of Livestock Research and Information Center for Devani breed at Bidar Prakash Kumar Rathod receiving the National Breed Conservation Award 2024 at the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana on Monday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

Livestock Research and Information Centre, a constituent research and extension unit of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University (KVAFSU), Bidar, has received the National Breed Conservation Award 2024.

In a program organized at the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana, an institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, KVAFSU Research Director BV Shivprakash and Devani Livestock Research and Information Center Assistant Professor and Head Dr. Prakash Kumar Rathod of Vidar received the award on National Farmers Day on Monday.

Congratulating all the teaching and non-teaching staff of the center for the remarkable achievement, KVAFSU Vice Chancellor KC Viranna said that this success and recognition highlighted the dedication, expertise and pioneering spirit of the team.

This has strengthened the Centre’s commitment to advance livestock research and innovation and has shown potential to significantly increase the quality of animal numbers, he added.

“The Livestock Research and Information Center I am visiting in Bidar is dedicated to the conservation and development of the Devani breed of cattle. It is a constituent research and extension unit of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University, Bidar. It was established in 1970 in an area of ​​57 acres, he said.

“Devni, a popular dual-purpose breed of cattle, has a history of more than 300 years and is known for drought tolerance, heat tolerance, disease resistance and adaptability to harsh climatic conditions. Devni bulls are good for heavy work and especially semi-intensive farming. is suitable for,” said Mr. Rathod. Hindu Wednesday.

Mr. Rathod mentioned that the center is part of modern scientific animal husbandry practices, having well-established housing facilities including traditional housing and open housing system for Devani cattle.

“The center has about 30 acres of green grass cultivation area, including eight acres of grassland with various grazing fodder crops such as rhodes, paragrass and guinea grass. For the benefit of the farming community, the research center has a fodder museum which includes 35 species of grasses, he said.

According to Mr. Rathod, bulls with high genetic merit are transferred to various government semen production centers in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

“Around 2.80 lakh frozen semen doses have been produced from these bulls at various semen stations. For the benefit of the farming community, more than 300 animals have been auctioned for the past 10 years. However, the stock of the parents is changed regularly by purchasing elite animals from farmers or various organizations through the expert animal purchase committee,’ he said.