10th April 2024, Udaipur The Annual Review Meeting of ICAR-Network Project on Sheep Improvement including the merged components of ICAR-Mega Sheep Seed Project was organised today at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Navania, Udaipur under the Chairmanship of Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR. The project aims to improve indigenous sheep breeds by selecting and propagating superior germplasm in farmers’ flocks. A meeting reviewed the progress of sheep units from 2020 to 2023, recommended improvements, and discussed implementation plans, focusing on genetic improvement and overall performance improvement.
Dr. Bhatta emphasized the importance of regular revision of targets and the introduction of performance-based grading for centers. He spoke about the need for technological interventions to fully utilize indigenous breeds’ genetic potential, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mutton in sheep production due to high demand in southern states and declining wool prices. Dr. Bhatta also accentuated the significance of creating specific modules for intensive sheep breed rearing.
Dr. S.K. Garg, Vice-chancellor, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, highlighted the need to promote indigenous sheep genetic resources as meat animals for the increasing popularity of mutton all over the country.
Dr. G. K. Gaur, Assistant Director General (Animal Production and Breeding), spoke about the challenges of productivity enhancement of indigenous sheep through the exploitation of their genetic potential because of the widening gap between demand and production. He also urged all PIs to identify potential reasons for underperforming in any trait and implement appropriate measures to address them.
Dr. Arun Kumar Tomar, Director, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, stressed the different aspects of the sheep sector and highlighted the emerging issues being faced by it. He also explained the role of this project under changing scenarios.
Dr. M.K. Chatli, Director, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, briefed on the contribution of small ruminants to the national economy and the importance of the adoption of scientific rearing practices by the farmers.
Dr. R.K. Nagda, Dean, CVAS, and Dr. Hemant Dadhich, Director Research, RAJUVAS, welcomed all the dignitaries and participants to CVAS, Navania.
(Source: ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar)
Read more: https://icar.org.in/annual-review-meeting-network-project-sheep-improvement
