राठी नस्ल सुधार परियोजना -NDDB-RGM
Project Name Rathi Breed Improvement Project
Area of Project: Lunkaransar, Bikaner, Sridungargarh Block, Chhatargarh, Bikaner District
financial assistance
National Gokul Mission and National Dairy Development Board
The project started in April 2019
Associate Institutions Rajasthan Livestock Development Board, Jaipur Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Union, Jaipur and Rajasthan Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Bikaner
Project Introduction:
Rathi - The Desert Queen
The Rathi is a mosaic indigenous breed, believed to have evolved from the Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Dhani and Red Sindhi breeds. It is also known as "Desert Queen". It is believed that the word "Rathi" was coined by the local people of the Lunkaransar region of Rajasthan. The actual meaning of Rathi in the Marwar language is 'extremely docile and calm animal'. While some believe that the name Rathi may have originated from a pastoral tribe called Ratha who are Muslims of Rajput origin and lead a nomadic life. The home area of Rathi cattle is mainly Lunkaransar tehsil of Bikaner district and some areas of Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Churu districts of Rajasthan.
Rathi is medium-sized cattle with short horns or absent horns, straight face, flat forehead, wide-set eyes, well-developed fore and hind quarters, and long naval flaps. Rathi cattle are generally brown in colour with white spots all over the body. However, some cattle are found with a completely brown or black coat with white spots. The distinctive feature of Rathi cattle is that it adapts easily to a wide range of climatic conditions ranging from cold winter (20C) to hot summer (500C) and can even withstand sandstorms. On average, Rathi cattle produce 5–10 kg of milk per day, with milk yield ranging from 1500–3000 kg.
Pedigree Selection Project
Recognizing the potential of the Rathi breed, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) initiated the Rathi Breed Conservation and Development Program in the Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan in 2002. Under National Dairy Plant Phase-I (NDP-I), a Pedigree Selection Project was implemented by NDDB in the core area of Rathi during 2011-2019 in association with URMUL Trust for the genetic improvement of Rathi cattle. The program is further continued under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
Before this project, the Rathi breed improvement project was operated from 2013 to 2019 under the NDP-First project. Taking this project forward, under the National Gokul Mission, the Rathi Breed Improvement Project is being implemented in the Bikaner district from April 2019.
the main purpose:
To conserve and promote the Rathi breed of cows and to encourage cattle herders and farmers for artificial insemination.
And to increase the capacity of milk production per animal and to produce bulls of excellent Rathi breed. And to make the bulls of excellent Rathi breed available to the Semen Bank and minimum
Providing services of Rathi breed artificial insemination on the amount.
Camp Rearing Center:
Rathi Breed Improvement Project was operated from 2013 to 2019 before this project under the Urmul PS Rathi NDP-I project. Taking this project forward, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the operation of the Calf Rearing Center of Rathi Breed Improvement Project is being done from April 2019 in the campus of Urmalu Setu Sansthan, Lunkaransar. Coffee bought from cattle rearers is being kept in the Coffee Rearing Centre.
In the Calf Rearing Centre, the calves reared by the cattle rearers of the project area are taken. At the time of purchase of calves from cattle rearers, major diseases occurring in calves are examined. This disease testing mainly includes Karyotyping, Brucellosis, B.V.D.I.B.R. and T.B.J.D. Apart from disease testing, parentage testing, de-worming and vaccination etc. Calves that are successful in all the tests done in this way are brought to the Calf Rearing Center. Presently, 7 good quality Rathi breed calves are present in Lunkaransar Calf Rearing Centre.
From April 2021 to March 2022, 7 high-quality calf semen stations have been distributed from Calf Rearing Center. After bringing the calves from the cattle rearer, they are kept at the centre for 3 months and their health is also checked from time to time.
Information for the distribution of calves brought to the centre is sent to various semen centres through the National Dairy Development Board and calves are distributed to the semen centres decided through the National Dairy Development Board so that disease-free and good-quality semen is produced.
