Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 14
An awareness programme on ‘Artificial insemination in pigs’ was organized by the State Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry here at Hotel Acacia on Monday.
Commissioner & Secretary, Vet. & AH, MK Mero who graced the programme as chief guest in his address stressed on the need to promote artificial insemination in a state like Nagaland, where people consume meat on a daily basis.
Mero said since most Naga prefer choice local meat, especially pork, there is an urgent need to produce more meat through artificial insemination. He also informed that the state Vet & AH department was planning to open a boar farm in the state to boost meat production. The Commissioner & Secretary further assured to extend all possible support to the department in all its activities.
Joint Director (Livestock), Vet & AH department, Dr. K David Sema, in his keynote address said the awareness programme on artificial insemination is the first of its kind in the state and called upon the veterinarians and other stakeholders to make the most of such awareness programmes.
In the first session, Dr. Yhuntilo Kent presented an overview of AI in pigs and Dr. Auto V spoke on the social impact and benefits of AI in pigs.
This was followed by a technical demonstration of AI equipments and discussion hour.
Highlights of the second session chaired by joint director, Vet & AH, Dr. SA Walling, included video display on AI in pigs and technical discussion.
The main objectives of Artificial Insemination (AI) are genetic improvement of livestock, disease control mechanism, and increase in fertility rate and decreased breeding expenses.
According to a handbook published by the state Vet & AH department, presently the pork production in the state falls far short of the demand, resulting in huge amount of money being spent for procuring meat from outside the state.
“The cost of raising animals is also so high due to rearing of low performing, non-descript animals, with low reproductively and productivity. The rearing of such animal for meat production and/or for breeding purpose incurs heavy economic loss to the owner/farm”, the booklet stated.
In order to improve the performance of animals and to attain self-sufficiency in pork production in the state, the department emphasized on the need to introduce superior quality germplasm (semen of Hampshire/Large Black/Yorkshire/Ghungroo) at a faster rate in the state.
Artificial insemination technique at this point can meet this demand at the farmer’s doorsteps, it informed.
