National Kamadhenu Cattle Breeding Centre in Nellore to Get Sustained Water Supply

Nellore: More than a decade after the National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre (NKBC) had been established at Chinthaladevi in SPSR Nellore district, the prestigious institution is poised to overcome one of its biggest infrastructure challenges — a dependable water source that is crucial for large-scale fodder cultivation and expanding the breeding of well-known indigenous cattle.

While the NKBC has made remarkable progress in breeding technology, irrigation has remained a limiting factor, with only about 210 acres currently under cultivation using borewells. Efforts made earlier to bring water through the Rallapadu Lift Irrigation proposal could not succeed.

Animal husbandry joint director Dr. Somaiah disclosed that the long-pending issue is finally nearing resolution, with laying of the alternative Marrigunta Lift Irrigation pipeline. Only the final works are to be completed. Two summer storage tanks have already been built at the Kamadhenu cattle breeding centre to store water.

Incidentally, the NKBC has sought ₹3.2 crore from the state government to complete the final phases of the Marrigunta project. Officials are optimistic of the funds being released within the next two months, paving the way for a permanent water source for fodder cultivation and future expansion of the centre.

Established under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with a financial outlay of ₹36.12 crore, the National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre had been conceived as the premier breeding hub in southern India to conserve, improve, and multiply indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds. NKBC’s mandate included preserving native germplasm, enhancing milk productivity through selective breeding, and supplying elite cattle to livestock institutions across the country as well as farmers.

The Centre currently maintains 19 indigenous breeds—14 cattle breeds and five buffalo breeds—including Ongole, Gir, Sahiwal, Punganur, Red Sindhi, Rathi, Murrah, and Jaffrabadi. The centre has more than 340 animals spread over 506 acres and has evolved into one of the country's most important repositories of native bovine genetic resources.

A major feather in its cap has been the establishment of a state-of-the-art In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) Laboratory, which has transformed indigenous cattle breeding in Andhra Pradesh.

Since becoming operational in 2022, the laboratory has produced over 1,000 elite embryos, including sex-sorted embryos, and distributed hundreds of these to farmers free of cost. The centre has trained veterinarians in embryo transfer technology, resulting in the birth of elite calves of Ongole, Gir, Punganur, Sahiwal, and Murrah breeds across the state. NKBC’s technology significantly accelerates genetic improvement by combining superior male and female genetics, apart from reducing the time needed to multiply high-quality indigenous breeds.

With the irrigation bottleneck expected to be addressed soon, officials believe the National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre is well positioned to emerge as the country's leading hub for conservation and genetic improvement of indigenous cattle breeds, thereby strengthening India's livestock sector and supporting farmers with superior native germplasm.