Scheme Name: State Sheep and Goat Deep Frozen Semen (DFS) and Artificial Insemination Laboratory
· Department: Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Uttarakhand
· Implementing Agency: Uttarakhand Sheep & Wool Development Board (USWDB)
· Year of Launch: 16 June 2022
· Geographical Coverage: Entire Uttarakhand with inter-state outreach
· Status: Completed
Problem Addressed and Objective
Established to achieve self-reliance in frozen buck semen production, strengthen Goat AI for marginal goat farmers, conserve superior genetics, reduce dependence on external agencies, and build skilled manpower for scientific goat breeding.
Scheme Design and Key Interventions
• Production and cryopreservation and distribution of superior quality frozen buck semen.
• Hands-on Goat AI training for Veterinary Officers and Para-veterinary professionals.
• Technical collaboration and semen supply to other State Animal Husbandry Departments.
Financial Outlay and Expenditure
Laboratory established under the National Livestock Mission (≈₹99 lakh). Current operational expenditure is borne by the Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand.
Physical Outputs
• 66,255 frozen goat semen doses produced; 55,785 doses supplied/Sold
• 5704 sheep semen doses produced (liquid and frozen)
• Revenue generated: ₹13.63 lakh through semen sales.
• DFS supply to 49 AI centers in Uttarakhand.
• Supplied semen to NDDB, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Over 200 Veterinary Officers and Para-veterinary professionals trained, including participants from Odisha and Himachal Pradesh.
• Established Uttarakhand as a national training hub for Goat Artificial Insemination.
Ground-Level Outcomes and Impact
The laboratory has strengthened scientific goat breeding in Uttarakhand by ensuring uninterrupted availability of quality frozen semen, accelerating AI adoption, reducing external dependence and positioning the State as a recognized center for goat breeding and capacity building.
Evidence and Success Stories
More than 300 high genetic cross bred Goat kids borne out of 1100 insemination benefiting around 900 goat rearing marginal farmers (Annexure)
Implementation Challenges and Corrective Action
• Farmer awareness and service accessibility were addressed through field demonstrations, village outreach and technical support.
• A proposal has been submitted to strengthen the facility as a North Regional Sheep & Goat Semen Lab
• Proposal to providing goat AI facility to eachcenter of AHD UK
• Capacity Building program ongoing for VOs and para vets
Present Status and Way Forward
The laboratory continues to expand semen production, AI coverage, inter-state collaborations and training programs, reinforcing Uttarakhand's position as a Centre of Excellence for small ruminant genetic improvement.
