Introduction
Bovine Research Program is one among the various commodity
programs under the National Agricultural Research Council
(NARC), administered directly by the director for livestock
and fisheries research. It has evolved from the Livestock
Development Farm of the Department of Livestock Development
and Animal Health after the establishment of Nepal Agricultural
Research Council in 1991.
Located at Khumaltar of Lalitpur sub-metropolitan
committee, Bovine Research Program lies between 27?40'
north latitude and 85? 20’ east longitudes with
the elevation of 1360 masl. It is about 7 km. south
of Kathmandu and within a walking distance of 2 km.
from the historical city of Patan.
As a component of NARC, it aims to contribute towards
increasing the production and productivity of livestock
sectors in general and research and development of bovine
in particular. Therefore, generation of appropriate
technologies for various agro-ecological zones of the
country, client oriented, problem based, participatory,
holistic and systematic research on cattle and buffalo
is the approach undertaken by this program to maintain
the dynamism in livestock production system and uplift
the living standard of nepalese population. .
Goal
Livelihood of farming communities improved through
research by increased livestock productivity.
Vision
Bovine (Cattle and Buffalo) Research Program aims
to enhance the production and productivity of livestock
sector in general and bovine in particular with the
integrated effort on client oriented, problem based,
participatory & systematic research and maintain
the dynamism in livestock production system.
Objectives
- To generate, verify and recommend adaptable technologies
in feeding, breeding, production / management (husbandry)
& health of bovine, suitable for various agro-ecological
zones of the country.
- To determine, formulate and fix priorities of bovine
research in the country.
- To document, maintain and update information on
bovine research in Nepal.
- To establish, maintain and strengthen linkage with
other National and International institutions / organisations
for collaborative and participatory research
Major Achievement
- ? Fifty percent gene level of crossbred Jersey
or Holstein-Friesian (HF) x Native is suitable for
the on-farm condition of mid hills. Age at calving,
calving interval and milk yield of 50 % Jersey and
HF was recorded (32.4 & 27.9 months), (13.8 &
17.7 months) and (1471 & 1836 liters/ lactation)
respectively.
- Early weaned crossbred cattle calves at 4 months
of age performed better than the calves weaned at
2 and 6 months of age. The age and body weight at
puberty of the cross-bred calves weaned at 4 month’s
of age was 12.33 months and 195.3 kg. Whereas the
calves weaned at 2 and 6 months of age had puberty
at 12.7 & 14.4 months of age and body weight at
puberty were 169.5 and 148.02 kg respectively.
- Weaning of buffalo calves at 3 months of age was
more profitable with better growth rate (376 gm/day)
as compared to the weaning at 4 months (286 gm/day),
5 months (296 gm/day) and 6 or more months (240 gm/day)
of age.
- Increased milk production in cows and better growth
rate of forthcoming calves can be expected by steaming
up diet during last two months of gestation. Concentrate
feeding @ 4.5 kg/day resulted a net profit of Rs 6860
/ lactation compared with 4 kg/day (Rs1313) and 3.5
kg/day (-140 Rs) as steaming up diet.
- Milk yield is affected significantly by the increased
feeding frequency of lactating animals. Dividing the
daily concentrate requirement of high yielding cattle
(> 10 liters/day) into three parts and feeding
them three times a day (7 a.m., 12 noon & 4 p.m.)
produced an additional 495 liters of milk per lactation
as compared with two times feeding (7 a.m. & 4
p.m.) 2268 liter/ lactation
- Urea-mineral-molasses block (UMMB) feeding was
economical for increased milk production in crossbred
dairy cattle. Dairy cows supplemented with UMMB produced
1282.6 liters of milk as compared to the cows without
supplemention (855.9 liters) in 140 days of study
period.
- Reconditioning young male buffalo at least for
30 days after 1-2 days haul was beneficial for meat
production. Reconditioning for 15, 30 and 45 days
resulted a margin of Rs 317.75, 714.45 and Rs 731.7
respectively. Similarly, average quantity of edible
meat with quality increased by (70.4 kg, 76.72kg &
81.3 kg respectively) with the same duration of reconditioning
as compared to control.
- Calves can be raised successfully by replacing
whole milk feeding with unconventional milk replacer
after the age of 21 days. Feeding milk replacer based
on buttermilk and whole milk saved Rs 2284 and 2141/-
per calf respectively during four months rearing period.
- Calves born during Kartik to Poush showed better
growth and low mortality in Kathmandu valley. Therefore,
heat-synchronizing animals for calving into that season
seemed beneficial.
- Induced lactation is possible in dry and infertile
animal with the use of sex steroids. Estrogen (Estradiol
17 ß and) progesterone (4-pregnene-3, 20 dione)
in the ratio of 1:2.5 It was more effective in terms
of induction and average milk yield as compared to
the hormone ratio of 1:1.
- Urea 4% & 4% molasses treated rice straw was
better (weight gain 340 gm/day) than 4% urea &
4% molasses treated wheat straw (weight gain 127 gm/day)
for fattening buffalo calves. Similarly it was superior
to 1% urea & 4% molasses treated rice straw (weight
gain 250 gm/day) and wheat straw (weight loss 37 gm/day)
for meat production of male buffalo calves.
- Draught animals are used only for 96.3 days in
the year therefore better utilization of draught animals
could be achieved by better feeding, breeding and
management system and by designing single oxen used
harness system.
- Crossbred Murrah buffalo can be raised for economic
milk production in the mid-hills.
Ongoing Research Activities
- Improvement of dairy cattle breed suitable for
the mid hills of Nepal.
- Adoption of Urea, Minerals, Molasses block in farmers
field
- Study on importance of quality mozzarella cheese
and its use in different food items.
- Study on comparative milk production of cattle
based on different feeding practice.
- Improvement of dairy animals husbandry to enhance
productivity in rural areas
Prioritized Research for upcoming
years
- Dairy research on product diversification, value
addition, marketing and post harvest technologies
for milk and milk products.
- Cost effective buffalo fattening in the Hills and
Terai.
- Feeding trials on locally available feeds resources
in different agro-ecological zones.
- Forage based low cost feeding technology for milch
animals.
- System study on cattle and buffalo production in
the rural areas.
- Prevention and control of bovine mastitis.
- Calf rearing system and their management.
- Assessments of productive and reproductive performance
of crossbreed cows.
- Management of infertility, anoestrus and repeat
breeding.
- Production, processing and handling of meat and
meat products.
- Pregnancy diagnosis at an early age.
- Reproductive health management of bovine and parasitic
control.
- Exploitation of adaptive & productive traits
of indigenous cattle & buffalo.
- Draught power technology.
- Disposal of unwanted animal and by-product management
of the livestock farm.
Researchers
Contact Address
Bovine Research Program, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
PO Box 1050, Kathmandu
Tel: 977-1-5521423 (O) Fax: 977-1-5521197
Email: brp@narc.gov.np
Website: www.narc.org.np
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