Embryo Transfer project to increase milk production

by Ananda Kannangara

The National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), the Australian Government and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Peradeniya launched the Embryo Transfer Project to increase the country's milk production.

The objective of the project is to increase the number of milch cows and milk production.

A recent NLDB survey revealed that there are 1.1 million milch cows in the country and among them 350,000 produce fresh milk for human consumption.

Chairman, NLDB, Dr. Chandrawansa Pathiraja told the media that the NLDB imported 200 high breed frozen embryos of Jersey Holstein Friesian and AFS breeds from Australia to be distributed among milch farmers and expand the herds in NLDB farms.

He said an embryo cost nearly Rs. 35,000 and the initial experiment of breeding calves from these embryos was successful.

"Twenty calves were born at the NLDB farms in Bopaththalawa, Dayagama, Nikeweratiya, Andigama, Galpokuna and Marandawila.

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Basil Alexander said a milch cow in the country produces nearly four litres of fresh milk a day and this will be increased to fifteen litres by using quality embryos to breed calves.