13 bulls flown in from Chicago to improve locals breeds

MUMBAI: Thirteen bulls of the Holstein Friesian breed known for its high milk yield arrived here from Chicago on Wednesday.

MUMBAI: Thirteen bulls of the Holstein Friesian breed known for its high milk yield arrived here from Chicago on Wednesday.

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A Lufthansa freighter landed here at 5.05 am with the cattle.

After clearing customs, they were taken to the airport’s quarantine facility in Koparkhairne, where they will be kept under observation for 30 days, said airport officials.

The bulls, who have been imported by Pune-based Chitale Genus ABS (India), a company that markets frozen semen of high quality cattle and buffalo breeds .

Breeding the new bulls with local breeds of cattle will help raise the country’s milk productivity.

“All the bulls have high ability to transmit their genetic potential to their progenies, thereby strengthening the armoury of Chitale Genus ABS,” said Vishvas Chitale, director of the company.

On September 3, the cattle would to taken to Brahma, the company’s state-of-the-art genetic dairy at Bhilawadi in Sangli district.

“Frozen semen from these bulls will be used by farmers to produce high quality cows for more and better quality of milk. This will lead to more prosperous dairy farmers,” said Dr. Arvind Gautam, managing director, ABS (India).

He added that though India was one of the largest milk producers in the world, per animal productivity here was very low compared to USA and other countries in Europe.