Plan to set up mineral mixture unit near frozen semen lab opposed

Nagpur: Even as the Maharashtra Livestock Development Board (MLDB) is going ahead with plans to set up a mineral mixture unit costing Rs3.34 crore adjoining the frozen semen laboratory on Amravati Road, NAWAR, an NGO doing research for animal welfare, cautioned that any construction activity will affect biosecurity and also semen quality and output.
The Frozen Semen Laboratory at Nagpur is the only lab in the region that produces semen for future artificial insemination to increase production of indigenous cattle. The semen produced here is supplied to 4,500 animal husbandry hospitals in the state. The other two labs are based in Pune and Aurangabad.
The mineral mixture unit is part of the Central government scheme, funds for which were sanctioned under the National Livestock Mission. This will be the first state-owned unit, approval for which was given in November 2020.
The semen stations in the state have elite bull of Gir, Sahiwal, Khillar, Kankrej, Rathi, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle breed and the Murrah, Jaffarabadi, Pandharpuri buffalo breeds.
“Mineral mixture is required by dairy animals for growth, milk production, reproduction, and health. The unit is proposed with the sole aim of providing all minerals, which the fodder fed to dairy animals can not. Currently, we are buying mineral mixture from private parties,” said Dr Sanjay Gore, deputy commissioner of animal husbandry and acting CEO of MLDB.
Gore said, “Depending on the requirement, the unit at frozen semen lab campus will produce at least 50 tonne mineral mixture to cater to MLDB’s 12 farms in Maharashtra. We will get good quality products at a competitive price.”
According to Aniruddha Pathak, assistant commissioner for animal husbandry, “Currently, the MLDB procures mineral mixture @Rs 100 per kg. The 12 farms in the state require 50 tonne (45,350kg) of mixture costing over Rs4.50 crore. If the unit is started, the same product will be available for Rs30-40 per kg. It will save huge money for the exchequer,” said
Maharashtra State Veterinary Council (MSVC) Dr Ajay Poharkar, who is also the secretary of the National Association for Welfare of Animals and Research (NAWAR), warned, “The unit will be a biosecurity threat to the semen lab. It will not only affect the quality of semen but also its output. It will also hit cattle conservation in the long run. Setting up such a unit close to the lab is also against the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) norms.”
Dr Poharkar pointed out that four years ago, the state had sought the same land for a bus depot but it was refused on the grounds that it will have too much human presence and noise pollution, threatening the biosecurity of the lab. “The mineral unit will be located hardly 125 feet from the highway,” he said.
Dr Pathak denied a biosecurity threat. “The unit will be located in a 10,000 sqft area in an isolated place with a compound wall. The location was finalized by experts from NDDB considering the biosecurity issues. The unit will do blending work and the entire production will be monitored by experts. Only two persons will be at work.”
Dr Poharkar said, “The unit will produce more output in the future and will not be confined to MLDB requirements causing problems.”
Dr Pathak said, “Even if more material is produced, the MLDB will charge a 4% royalty as per the production cost from the party.”