KVK, GUNTUR IMPACTFUL INTERVENTION WITH SEX-SORTED SEMEN: A FIELD STUDY ON CONCEPTION PERFORMANCE AND FEMALE CALF YIELD IN BUFFALOES

Abstract

A field study was conducted under the impactful interventions of Keishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), to popularise and evaluate the performance of Sex Sorted Semen (SSS) in Graded Murrah (GM) buffaloes under farmer managed field conditions of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. A total 600 doses of SSS straws derived from three breeding bulls (Mahabali, GM401, GM404) were used between November 2023 to June 2024 across two adopted villages of KVK. The inseminations were carried out as per the guidelines given by Andhra Pradesh Livestock Development Agency (APLDA) in enrolled GM buffaloes receiving either single or double dose of SSS straws. Pregnancy diagnosis was done between 80 to 100 days post insemination and animals were monitored for possibility of dystocia, still births and calf sex. Out of 393 inseminated buffaloes, 139 animals were found pregnancy positive (PD +ve) resulting in birth of 120 female and 13 male calves while six pregnant animals were sold before calving. Conception rates ranged from 25 to 38.71% across months, with a tendency of higher success (PD +ve) in double insemination as compared to single inseminations. Bull wise conception rate varied from 25 to 38.9% reflecting interactive effect of bull efficiency, seasonal variations, time of inseminations and insemination protocol. Overall, this trial achieved a conception rate of 35.4% with 90.2% female and 9.77% male calf births. Minimum reproductive complications were recorded (1.44% dystocia, 2.16% abortion cases and no still births or premature calves). These findings confirm the practical utility of SSS in reliably skewing the sex rate towards female calves, there by supporting herd replacement and sustainable dairy productivity under field conditions.