Livestock Economics, Marketing and Business Management

Interim guidelines for export / import of bovine germpIasm

INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR EXPORT/IMPORT OF BOVINE GERMPLASM

• The import and export of the cattle/ buffalo germplasm is under restricted list and is allowed against the license issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce on the recommendation of this Department.
• Introduction of temperate dairy breeds in the country for cross-breeding indigenous non -descript cattle has been accepted for quite some time now.
• In pursuance to this, the need has been felt by number of State Governments/ Organisations to import exotic germplasm to produce the quality cross-bred animals.
• With the extension of the breeding programme and the artificial breeding network, a surge in the demand for the exotic germplasm is also expected.
• There is a definite demand for the germplasm of Indian breeds of cattle and buffalo, in South America, South Asia and other countries. Keeping in view our responsibility towards conservation of the rich diversity, it is important to broadly categorize the germplasm of cattle and buffalo meant for breeding purposes and further for the export purposes.
• Imposing a complete ban on the export of Indigenous germplasm because of conservation concern would actually be counterproductive.
• Such a ban will only encourage the flow of germplasm through illegal trade and in a country with such huge land border it will be impossible to control such flow through illegal trade.
• It can be used for the up gradation of the indigenous stock.
  • Accordingly, it has been felt that some guidelines should be put in place for processing such applications for import and export of germplasm.
  • Interim Guidelines for export /import of bovine germplasm

Guidelines for the Import of bovine germplasm

• Import of live animals (bovine) and bovine germplasm will be permitted for breeding purpose only.
• Eligibility of Importers
  • The institutes/Organizations capable of keeping and maintaining the performance records 'of exotic germplasm should only be permitted to import bovine germplasm and these institutions will be evaluated by the Department of Animal Husbandry. Dairying and Fisheries(DADF) for grant of permission.
  • Complete genetic and production data /information with respect to the germplasm should be submitted to this Department before the actual imports.
  • Post import information from the date of import to the date of disposal in prescribed proforma must be maintained and submitted to Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries and State Governinents on six monthly basis.
  • The feeding schedule from the import'ing country should be supplied along with other documents
  • The import should be based on the fat % and lactation yield in addition to other milk component character standards. The type evaluation should form the integrated component of selection.
  • The guidelines formulated by OlE, Codex Alimentarius and lETS should be strictly adhered to while importing the genetic material.
  • The pre and post import quarantine measures for live animals and germplasm should be strictly adhered to according to GOI health protocols.
  • The justifications for import and future roadmap for utilization of imported germplasm should be supplied with other documents.
  • No objection certificate from the concerned State Government should be submitted before the actual imports.
• Screening Committee
  • All the applications for the import of germplasm will be examined. by .the Department of Animal Husbandrx Dairying and Fisheries (DAD F).
• Veterinary Certificates
  • The imports should be regulated as per the provision of Livestock Importation Act, 1898 amended from time to time and as per the protocols/ veterinary certificates
• Order of import
  • For import of germplasm, the order of preference should be frozen semen, frozen embryos, and live animals, which shall be based on the assessment of the domestic requirement of bulls and bull mothers and their availability in the country.
• Standards for Import of Germplasm
  • Semen from progeny tested sires with +ve sire indices/breeding values (with reliability of> 85%) should only be allowed for importation.
  • The selection criterion for milk fat should be a minimum of3.5% in HF and 5% in Jersey.  Semen should be procured from the bulls with daughters average lactation yield ( in 305 days) above 9000 liters in HF and 6000 liters in Jersey.
  • Bulls should be improver for type characters like udder and feet conformation.
  • Donor bull should be free from genetic disorders like bovine leukocyte adhesion disease (BLAD), deficiency of uridine mono-phosphate synthetase (DUMPS), citrulinemia (deficiency of argino-succinate synthetasea) and Factor XI
  • Embryos should be procured from the donor dams -HF with minimum lactation yield of'l 000 Its with minimum of 3,5% fat. Sire should be progeny tested with sire indices/breeding value of higher order (with reliability of> 85%).
  • Embryos should be procured from the donor dams- Jersey with minimum
  • lactation yield of 7000 Its with minimum of 5% fat. Sire should be progeny tested with sire indices/breeding value of higher order (with reliability of> 85%),
  • In case of import of indigenous germplasm, average of top 20% of genetic
  • Material on current animal register of the exporting country shall be considered for import.
  • Import of germplasm of other exotic breeds will be allowed only for experimental purpose subject to condition that the semen is from progeny tested.
  • For import of live animals/ Semen! Embryos of other bovine breeds, the DADF shall consider and recommend case-to-case basis.