17 High-Genetic US Dairy Bulls Arrive in Kashmir for Breeding Programme | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) Kashmir has procured 17 High Genetic Merit (HGM) dairy bulls imported from the United States, marking a major step towards genetic upgradation of bovine livestock in the Kashmir province.

Officials said the elite bulls have been genomically evaluated and ranked under internationally recognised genetic performance indices developed by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), United States. The animals were assessed on 15 different parameters and classified in the elite category of breeding bulls.

The bulls arrived in India on December 18, 2025 and were placed under a mandatory 30-day post-import quarantine at the Government of India’s Post-Import Quarantine Facility at Bengaluru. During the quarantine period, the animals underwent rigorous health screening for nine major infectious diseases.

Authorities said the bulls were released only after all test results returned negative, in accordance with national biosecurity protocols. Following clearance, the animals were transported to Kashmir and are currently housed at the Pre-Entry Quarantine Facility of the Frozen Semen Project at Ranbirbagh.

The department said the bulls will now be inducted into semen production, and frozen semen doses will be generated for use in the conventional Artificial Insemination (AI) programme in line with Government of India guidelines.

Officials stated that semen produced from these genetically superior bulls will play a crucial role in improving dairy cattle across the Valley. The initiative is expected to enhance milk productivity, reproductive efficiency, functional longevity and overall herd health.

The introduction of high-quality dairy germplasm is also projected to deliver long-term benefits to farmers and strengthen the sustainability of the dairy sector in the region.

Officials noted that the import is particularly significant as it marks the first successful procurement of breeding bulls from abroad by any state or Union Territory in the country. The project has been funded under the flagship Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.